Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
French accuse Australia and the United States (AS) lied about the collapse of an Australian contract to buy French submarines. There is currently a crisis between these allies after France decided to withdraw its ambassadors to the two countries.
When interviewed by French media, the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, did not indicate that the crisis was abating.
“There have been lies, duplications, grave breaches of trust and humiliation. This is not going to work,” Le Drian said AFP, Sunday (19/9).
He described the withdrawal of ambassadors for the first time in the history of diplomatic relations between the three countries as a symbol that shows how unhappy France is in this situation.
Withdrawal of ambassador
It was previously reported that France had recalled its ambassadors in Australia and the US last Friday due to the cancellation of the submarine purchase contract.
Le Drian explained that at the time President Emmanuel Macron summoned the ambassadors after Australia canceled a deal to buy French submarines but later bought submarines from the US.
Le Drian called the ambassador’s withdrawal “immediately” after taking the Australian and US decision seriously, which was announced on 15 September.
He also said Australia and France had an agreement on submarines since 2016 and that abandonment of the project was unacceptable between the allies.
“The consequences affect the concept we have of our alliance, our partnership and the importance of the Indo-Pacific to Europe,” Le Drian said. AFP, Saturday (18/9).
US President Joe Biden had previously announced a new Australia-US-UK defense alliance on Wednesday. This led the US to expand nuclear submarine technology to Australia as well as cyber defense, artificial intelligence and underwater capabilities.
The move angered France because it lost a $36.5 billion contract to supply conventional submarines to Australia when it was signed in 2016.
A White House official said he “regrets” France’s decision to withdraw its ambassador. He said he would resolve differences with France as he had done throughout the alliance.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the issue would be discussed at ‘senior levels’, including at the UN General Assembly next week which will be attended by Le Drian and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
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