France rejects US deal with Australia on nuclear submarines 3:19
(CNN) -
The French government called its ambassadors in the US and Australia for consultations - for which they will return to Paris temporarily - in response to the recently announced security agreement with the United Kingdom and Australia.
Philippe Étienne, the French ambassador to the United States, confirmed the news when contacted for comment.
In a statement, Jean-Yves Le Drian, France's French minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, said on Friday that the move was carried out at the request of President Emmanuel Macron.
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"This extraordinary decision reflects the exceptional seriousness of the announcements made on September 15 by Australia and the United States," said Le Drian.
"The abandonment of the ocean-class submarine project that Australia and France had been working on since 2016 and the announcement of a new partnership with the United States to study the possibility of future cooperation on nuclear-powered submarines constitute unacceptable behavior between allies. and partners; its consequences affect the very concept we have of our alliances, our partnerships and the importance of the Indo-Pacific for Europe. "
It is believed to be the first time the French have resorted to such a move in modern times, a French official told CNN.
The New York Times was the first to report the news of the recalls.
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The French government said earlier this week that it felt betrayed when Australia withdrew from its existing multi-billion dollar defense deal, agreeing instead to obtain nuclear-powered submarines through a new deal with the United States and the United Kingdom.
The effort to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines - an important step in fighting China as President Joe Biden works to build international support for his Beijing approach - is part of a new trilateral partnership between the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. , nicknamed "AUKUS".
How does the new agreement affect France?
France risks losing the equivalent of US $ 65 billion from an existing deal to supply Australia with conventional diesel-powered submarines.
The canceled deal with France, a major global arms exporter, is expected to have a significant economic impact on the French defense sector.
France may also lose out strategically in the Indo-Pacific, where the country has significant interests.
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On Thursday, after the nuclear-powered submarine deal with the US and the UK was announced, Australia formally announced that it would withdraw from its previous contract with France.
Australia previously planned to acquire 12 conventional attack submarines from the French shipbuilder Naval Group, which in 2016 successfully outbid German and Japanese offers.
Emmanuel macron
