The dispute between France, the United States and Australia over the torpedoing of a French submarine mega-contract in Canberra is unlikely to have any impact on "military cooperation" within NATO, said Saturday Admiral Rob Bauer, Chairman of the Alliance Military Committee.
The United States, Australia and the United Kingdom announced on Wednesday a strategic partnership to counter China (AUKUS), providing for the supply of American nuclear-powered submarines to Canberra, which de facto lost the France a mega-contract signed in 2016 for the supply of twelve diesel-powered submarines to Australia.
Possible consequences
"There may be implications or consequences as a result of this agreement, but for the moment I do not foresee that it could have an impact on cohesion within NATO," Admiral Bauer told the meeting. press after a conference in Athens of NATO military leaders.
First of all, “Australia is a partner but is not a member of NATO.
There are many agreements between countries which may have effects on NATO from a political point of view ”, but the agreement concluded between the United States, Australia and Great Britain“ will not have no impact, as far as I know, on military cooperation within NATO, ”he continued.
The strategic partnership angered France, which lost this contract for the supply of submarines of 90 billion Australian dollars (56 billion euros).
On Friday, France recalled its ambassadors to the United States and Australia, an unprecedented decision vis-à-vis two historic allies.
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