“We have heard a lot of lies and there has been a fundamental breach of trust. It will not work like this, our relations are not developing well at all now, “Le Drian said in an interview with France 2. He called the cancellation of the agreement, on which France and Australia have been working since 2016, a crisis.
–
In 2019, after two years of delays, Australia signed a contract with the French company Naval Group for the production of 12 submarines for A $ 50 billion (CZK 785 billion).
–
Naval Group announced after the cancellation of the contract that it will lose 500 employees in Australia and another 650 in France.
–
France slammed the door
The angry French even called their ambassadors from Australia and the United States, which in diplomacy can be compared to slamming a door after an argument.
–
Le Drian also faced the question of why France did not withdraw the ambassador from Britain. “We know they are permanent opportunists, so there was no reason for our ambassador to explain. In this case, Britain is actually a fifth wheel in the car, “the minister complained.
–
Johson relieves tension
The relationship between France and Britain is “extremely important” for London, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday to appease Paris, which was irritated by the pact between the United States, Australia and Britain. “This partnership is by no means to have a winner and a loser, it was not intended to exclude anyone,” Johnson said.
–
In a Sunday response, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss told the Sunday Telegraph that Britain was trying to find a partnership with “like-minded countries”. According to her, the agreement with Australia and the United States shows a readiness to defend its interests and challenge unfair practices.
—
