The situation is exceptional. The day after a meeting with Emmanuel Macron and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the French Ambassador to Washington (United States) assures us: his recall "is an" exceptional procedure (...) which marks the seriousness of our reaction. and this moment in our relations with the United States. "Received in the RTL studios this Monday morning, Philippe Étienne said:" The idea is to assess the situation in our relations, to try to see the prospects. This is the reason why I was received by the Minister and the President of the Republic. "
The United States, Australia and the United Kingdom on Wednesday announced a strategic partnership to counter China, AUKUS, including the supply of American nuclear-powered submarines to Canberra, which effectively took the French out of the game, then a colossal contract had been signed in 2016.
đź’¬ Submarine crisis: "My return to Paris marks the seriousness of the moment", @Ph_Etienne, French ambassador to the United States #RTLMatin pic.twitter.com/CmruQF7ujU
- RTL France (@RTLFrance) September 20, 2021
France had never recalled its ambassador to the United States.
It is a question of "marking the gravity of this moment", adds Philippe Étienne.
“It is a procedure that was chosen for the ambassadors of France and Australia to mark the seriousness of the extent of our concerns (…) The reminder is already an answer.
(…) There were statements then this reminder (…) What is going to happen we will continue to talk about it ”, comments the diplomat.
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Regarding the content of his conversations on Sunday evening with Emmanuel Macron and Jean-Yves Le Drian, the ambassador explains without giving more details that they “analyzed the situation” and “mentioned what can be done next”.
“And this is the reason why I will continue to have these consultations during my stay in France.
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France had signed in 2016 a contract of 90 billion Australian dollars (56 billion euros) for the supply to Australia of 12 submarines with diesel propulsion, often qualified of "contract of century" because of its scale. and its strategic scope.
But after meeting with the United States, Australia canceled the deal, causing an unprecedented crisis with its French ally.
France "absolutely not informed" of Australia's hesitations
The recall of the French diplomats “is not a rupture, estimates Philippe Étienne, but the moment is sufficiently serious to have this type of diplomatic gesture.
"The Americans themselves are concerned about maintaining their relations with France, a serious, credible, reliable ally."
The diplomat specifies, however, that France was "absolutely not informed" of Australia's hesitations and adds that the United States "knew the importance of this contract for France, both industrially and by in relation to our strategy in the Indo-Pacific region ”.
According to him, the Americans still consider France as "an important ally, including in terms of security".
"We need the Americans in Europe, but the Americans also want to continue working with us."
