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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison during the joint announcement of the submarine deal
Photo: MICK TSIKAS / imago images / AAP
Australia plans to use US technology to build nuclear-powered submarines for the first time. This cooperation is causing displeasure in China and France. The countries should shake off their "cold war mentality" and their "ideological prejudices", said the Chinese US embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called the decision "brutal", according to the Reuters news agency. She reminded him "a bit of Trump". In 2016, Australia signed a multi-billion dollar contract with France to build twelve new submarines. This deal must now give way to the new initiative.
Britain has rejected criticism from France.
Australia's decision to build nuclear-powered submarines with American and British support instead of conventional submarines with French help was made there, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said on Sky News on Thursday.
“We have no reason to turn the French against us.
They are among our closest military allies in Europe. "
Wallace understands France's disappointment
He understands France's disappointment.
He spoke personally with his French counterpart about the decision.
Wallace said again, according to Reuters news agency, that no nuclear weapons were involved in the submarines.
It is about boats with nuclear propulsion.
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New pact with the USA and Great Britain: nuclear submarines for Australia - as a signal to China
The security pact forged by the USA, Great Britain and Australia for the strategically important Indo-Pacific region was announced on Wednesday.
US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Australian colleague Scott Morrison presented the partnership, Biden spoke in the White House, Johnson and Morrison were connected via video.
It is about securing peace and stability in the region in the long term, said Biden and warned of "rapidly developing threats" in the Indo-Pacific region.
As part of the agreement, the Washington government plans to enable Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
Together with Great Britain, an optimal way should be found in the next 18 months so that Australia would receive such modern submarines, it said in a joint communication by Biden, Morrison and Johnson.
The USA and Great Britain would share their expertise with Australia.
According to Reuters, Australia will initially build eight such submarines.
The initiative of the three states is to be called »Aukus«, based on the English abbreviations of the participating countries.
It was a "historic step," said Biden.
Unlike Great Britain, Australia is not a member of the western defense alliance NATO, but is considered a close partner of the organization. Australia has participated in NATO military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. In addition to the bilateral relationship, the USA and Australia are also linked via the so-called Five-Eyes partnership of the secret services. The alliance includes Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Great Britain and the USA. Biden also relies on an alliance called "Quad" for security and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The quartet includes Australia, India, Japan and the USA. Biden will see the Alliance's leaders at the White House next week.
Australia's Prime Minister Morrison said France remains an incredibly important partner in the Pacific.
“But as Prime Minister, I have to make decisions that benefit Australia's national security, and I know France would do the same.
And I know that in the end it will be understood. "
svs / dpa / Reuters