PARIS (AP) — France said late Friday it was immediately recalling its ambassadors to the U.S. and Australia after Australia scrapped a big French conventional submarine purchase in favor of nuclear subs built with U.S. technology.
Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a written statement that the French decision, on request from President Emmanuel Macron, “is justified by the exceptional seriousness of the announcements” made by Australia and the United States.
He said Wednesday’s announcement of Australia’s submarine deal with the U.S. is “unacceptable behavior between allies and partners.”
Earlier Friday, a top French diplomat spoke of a “crisis” in relations with the U.S.
The diplomat, who spoke anonymously in line with customary government practice, said that for Paris “this is a strategic question concerning the very nature of the relationship between Europe and the United States about the Indo-Pacific strategy.”
He would not speculate on the effects the situation would have on France’s relationship with the U.S. “There’s a crisis,” he stressed.
Read the rest here.
Can't tell from the article whether Australia reneged on a deal with the French, or whether they just chose what seems to them the better of two options. As much as I dislike the current administration, I am not sure the US is the culprit here.
ReplyDeleteWell there is this... https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/france-says-australian-submarine-deal-u-s-u-k-slap-ncna1279456
ReplyDeleteI think this is the sort of thing you see when it's not clear who's in charge, as Biden is in early-stage dementia and lacks agency. He cannot "cut the knot," for better or worse, in policy debates.
ReplyDeleteThe US executive branch is run by a committee; who's on it and who wields the most influence nobody knows.
Ok. It does look like the US&UK did elbow the French out. For an administration that claims to be globalist, that is not a smooth move.
ReplyDelete