Paris (AFP)

Australia's choice to acquire nuclear-powered submarines in partnership with the United States and the United Kingdom, to the detriment of a contract with the French industrialist Naval Group, is a "regrettable decision" , the French government said Thursday.

"It is a decision contrary to the letter and the spirit of the cooperation which prevailed between France and Australia, based on a relationship of political trust as on the development of an industrial and technological base of defense of very high level in Australia ", denounced the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement.

"The American choice which leads to the removal of an ally and a European partner like France from a structuring partnership with Australia, at a time when we are facing unprecedented challenges in the Indo-Pacific region (...) marks an absence consistency that France can only observe and regret, "he added.

"The regrettable decision which has just been announced (...) only reinforces the need to raise the issue of European strategic autonomy loud and clear. There is no other credible way to defend our interests and our values ​​in the world, ”the ministry continued.

Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom announced Wednesday a broad security partnership in the Indo-Pacific zone.

London and Washington have made a particular commitment to "support Australia in the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines," according to a joint statement from the three partners.

This spectacular announcement torpedoed a gigantic order of conventional submarines placed from Australia to France in 2016.

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