On the front page: the betrayal of the century ...

Audio 00:04

Australia has decided to invest in US nuclear-powered submarines and abandon its contract with France to build diesel-electric submarines due to a changed strategic environment, Prime Minister Scott said Morrison on Thursday, September 16, 2021 © AP / Petty Officer 1st Class Michael B. Zingaro

By: Frédéric Couteau Follow

4 min

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France does not take off after Australia's breach of what was described as the " 

contract of the century

 ", a contract for the supply of twelve conventional submarines to the Australian navy. And for good reason…

This morning

Le Figaro

reveals the smoky backstage of this affair. “ 

Even the former spies John Le Carré and Ian Flemming, the creator of James Bond, could not have imagined such a scenario

, exclaims the newspaper.

On the other hand, they could have found a title for the so-called "Australian submarines" affair:

the betrayal of the century.

Its details, which tell of one of the biggest diplomatic scams to which France has ever been a victim, explain the level of anger, rarely seen for an ally, of the highest French officials.

(…) For a year and a half,

reports

Le Figaro

, Australia plotted with London and Washington to seal a three-way alliance and undermine the agreement signed with France.

 "

Australians lied all the way

It all started in March 2020, with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison convincing his British counterpart and then the President of the United States of a three-way union to rule out France. “ 

For 18 months, the preparations for this spectacular turnaround of the alliance will be kept secret

,” points out

Le Figaro

.

The plot is finally sealed in June 2021 between Canberra, London and Washington, during the G7 meeting, in English Cornwall. The French, alerted by rumors that the Australians could finally opt for nuclear-powered submarines, offer the Australians to discuss it. No answer… Scott Morrison kept his silence and his secrets.

 " And " 

the list of artifices, slanders and lies is long,

 ”says

Le Figaro

.

And until the last moment, exclaims

Le Monde

.

Indeed, relates the evening daily: "a 

few hours before the announcement of the termination of the contract, the Australians sent a letter to Paris saying that they were" satisfied with the performance attainable by the submarine and by the progress of the program".

And to add:

 "

forward to launch the next phase of the contract".

 In short, they lied to the end ...

Commentary from

Le Monde

: “ 

This is not going to alleviate a situation that is getting worse day after day between France and Australia.

 "

55 billion euros over 50 years ...

“ 

Paris still cannot digest betrayal,

 ” adds

L'Opinion

.

The Opinion

which is particularly interested in the financial side of the case: “ 

the Australians have so far spent 900 million euros for this contract.

Part of this sum has already been paid to the French manufacturer Naval Group and the remainder will be.

This is a net loss for Australia.

As for possible financial compensation for withdrawal, discussions have started between the French and Australians, but it is too early to know the outcome

.

"

In addition, again specifies

L'Opinion

, in total, this contract of the century concerned " 

approximately 55 billion euros over 50 years

 ".

The share which was to go to France was “ 

estimated at around ten billion.

 "

In any case, the new agreement with the United States should cost Australia dearly: the new Virginia-class submarines cost $ 3 billion each, or double the French Suffren submarines.

“ 

In the business world

, point out

Les Echos

, it

is stressed that the Australian government has every right to choose its investments in full sovereignty but that the way of doing things will tarnish Australia's reputation in the world. of business.

What is the word of a government worth?

 "

And then, on the political level,

Les Echos

still point out

, “ 

new elections must be held next year in Australia.

We can bet that the debate on submarines which has agitated the political class for ten years, by dividing the pro and the anti-nuclear, will resume with a vengeance.

The story is not over…

 ”

Biden's priorities

Finally, we return to

Figaro

who notes that during this time, at the UN, “ 

Joe Biden pretends to ignore the crisis with his French partner.

 "For his first speech at the UN, the American president posted other priorities, with three objectives:" 

one, to forget Afghanistan, two, to reach out to developing countries to help them reduce their costs. polluting gas emissions and three, convince of the American desire to share anti-Covid vaccines with the rest of the world.

 "

At his request, Joe Biden should speak by phone with Emmanuel Macron before the end of the week ...

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