AUKUS saga: Australian prime minister lied about submarine deal, says Macron

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Asked if he thought Morrison was false in his remarks, Macron replied, “I don’t think so, I know.” Morrison denies being dishonest.

The macro was raging after Australia canceled 37 bln ASV A $ 1 million contract for the construction of 12 conventional submarines was agreed and instead a new framework for defense cooperation was agreed with the United States and the United Kingdom, the so-called AUKUS.

The AUKUS framework means three countries – the United States, British and Australia – the Alliance. The agreement stipulates that Australia will have the technology to help it build nuclear submarines. The agreement also covers the exchange of information and technology in a number of areas, including intelligence and quantum technology. However, the key element of the agreement is nuclear submarines.

Paris was very unhappy about the deal. Shortly after announcing AUKUS, France temporarily recalled its ambassadors from the United States and Australia. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Ledriaan described Australia’s accession to the AUKUS as a “backstroke”, which is “unacceptable behavior between allies and partners”.

“I have great respect for your country (..) I’m just saying, when we have respect, you have to be sincere and you have to act on that value,” the French president said in response to a question from an Australian journalist.

Speaking after Macron’s comments, Scott Morrison told reporters that he had not lied to the president and that he had previously explained to him that conventional submarines would no longer meet Australia’s defense needs. He added that the restoration of trust and relations between the two countries has already begun.

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