(Dan Tri) – France immediately recalled its ambassadors to the US and Australia for consultation after losing tens of billions of dollars in business because of the defense and security agreement between the US, UK and Australia.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (Photo: AFP).
`At the request of the President (Emmanuel Macron), I decided to immediately recall our two ambassadors to the US and Australia back to Paris for consultations. This unusual decision shows the exceptional seriousness of the situation.`
On September 15, US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced an Indo-Pacific security and defense cooperation agreement, also known as the AUKUS agreement.
The head of French diplomacy said: `The abandonment of the ocean-class submarine project that Australia and France have been implementing since 2016 and the announcement of a new partnership with the US aim to study the possibility of future cooperation.`
This is said to be the first time in modern history that France has made such a drastic move.
The loss of this agreement could have a strong impact on France’s defense production industry, in addition it could cause France to lose strategically in the Indo-Pacific, where it has important interests.
AUKUS creates a premise for transferring a series of advanced technology and defense capabilities to Australia – a country with an important position in the US Indo-Pacific strategy.
The agreement includes sharing information and technology in many fields including intelligence, quantum technology, and guided missiles.
AUKUS is considered to be aimed at curbing China’s influence in the region, but has `displeased` France.
French officials are said to have not been informed of Australia’s decision to cancel the submarine-building agreement.
Immediately after the leaders of the US, UK and Australia announced the AUKUS agreement, French Foreign Minister Le Drian and Defense Minister Florence Parly issued an angry statement.
It is unclear what France’s next step will be, but some sources said that President Macron’s administration may request compensation for the contract.
America and Britain sought to placate France.
Nick John