Indo-Pacific: Paris, big loser of the alliance between Canberra, Washington and London?
The USS Georgia, the US Navy's nuclear submarine, in Gulf waters on December 21, 2020 (photo illustration) AP - Indra Beaufort
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
The United States, the United Kingdom and Canberra announced, Wednesday, September 15, the constitution of a new partnership of security and defense.
Australia must acquire several American nuclear submarines.
It gives up, in passing, a huge order for French submarines signed in 2016. Despite everything, US President Joe Biden assures us that he still relies on Paris in the region.
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The announcement was made Wednesday by Scott Morrison. The Australian Prime Minister has confirmed that his country will acquire American nuclear-powered submarines. This is the decision that emerged from the new partnership between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. These last two nations will help the first to acquire these devices, as provided for in this new pact called Aukus.
"
Aukus' first major initiative will be to deliver a fleet of nuclear powered submarines to Australia,
" said Scott Morrison, appearing on video conference with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden . This alliance can also be read as a strong posture in the face of China's growing ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region.
A senior White House official called the partnership "
historic
", binding the three countries "
for generations
."
The United States had only shared this sensitive technology with the United Kingdom.
This shows the importance of this agreement "
which reflects the degree of trust between us and the depth of our friendship
", dixit Boris Johnson.
But a fourth protagonist appears to be the big loser of this partnership: France.
Biden still wants to "work closely with France"
In 2016, Australia had placed a gigantic order of conventional submarines from France.
Naval Group, a French industrial group specializing in defense naval construction, was to deliver 12 aircraft over 50 years.
Total cost of the operation: 50 billion Australian dollars, or 31 billion euros.
A real “contract of the century” which risks being abandoned in favor of the new Aukus partnership.
However, during an interview with Scott Morrison in mid-June, President Emmanuel Mcron reaffirmed France's “
full commitment
” to go through with the contract.
In the evening of Wednesday, Naval Group made by “
its great disappointment
” as for the last developments.
Perhaps aware of the cold that Aukus could throw on relations with France, Joe Biden wanted to unite.
The American president assured that his country wants to “
work closely with France
” in the Indo-Pacific region.
Paris remains "
a key partner
", he insisted.
(With AFP)
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