China News Service, September 17th, a comprehensive report. Recently, the establishment of a trilateral security partnership between the United States, Britain and Australia has angered France, because Australia has turned around and cancelled tens of billions of cooperation with France after the United States helped it develop nuclear-powered submarines. US dollar submarine contract.

The French Foreign Minister angrily stated that this was an act of "stabbing a knife in the back" and treachery, and the French Embassy in the United States also cancelled an event to commemorate the friendly relations between the United States and France.

The US Secretary of State hurriedly "appeased" France, while the Australian Prime Minister said that he called French President Macron to explain to no avail.

On September 15, US President Biden held a joint video press conference with British Prime Minister Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Morrison to announce the establishment of a US-UK-Australia trilateral security partnership called "AUKUS".


The United States, Britain and Australia "stabbed in the back" France is angry

　　On the 15th, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia "done a big thing." The three countries established the US-UK-Australia trilateral security partnership called "AUKUS."

The first task under this tripartite framework is to help Australia develop nuclear-powered submarines.

　　The development of nuclear-powered submarines is an unattainable "beautiful thing" for Australia. For this reason, Australia "without hesitation" canceled its submarine contract with France worth tens of billions of dollars.

　　Australian Prime Minister Morrison also personally confirmed at a joint press conference with US President Biden and British Prime Minister Johnson that the submarine contract with France has been cancelled.

　　This move by Australia and the United States and Britain angered France.

　　French Foreign Minister Le Drian was angry at Australia's "tear-up" of the contract. He said he was "very angry and aggrieved."

　　Le Drian directly compares this behavior to "stabbing a knife in the back" and believes that this is not "something that should be done between allies."

He also said that the trust relationship established with Australia has been destroyed.

Data map: Australian Prime Minister Morrison (left) and French President Macron.

France does not rule out claiming the embassy to cancel the commemorative celebration

　　French Foreign Minister Le Drian also said in a joint statement with French Defense Minister Parly: “When we face unprecedented challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, the United States chose to remove European allies like France from the structural partnership with Australia. Pushing away, whether from the perspective of our values ​​or respect for multilateralism based on the rule of law, this shows a lack of consistency. France can only accept it and express regret."

　　In Le Drian's view, "this kind of simple, rude, and unpredictable unilateral decision is very much like what (former U.S. President) Trump would do."

　　Parley does not even rule out the possibility that France may demand compensation from Australia because of Australia unilaterally tearing up the contract.

　　Not only did the verbal crusade against the United States, Britain and Australia, France also took concrete actions to express anger.

　　On September 17, the French Embassy in the United States was originally scheduled to hold a celebration of "Commemorating the 240th Anniversary of the Battle of the Cape".

At that time, France played a key role in this naval battle, which was also regarded as a symbol of friendly relations between the United States and France.

The French Embassy in the United States directly announced that the celebration was cancelled and the French navy officials who had gone to Washington to participate in the event would return to Paris ahead of schedule.

Data map: Australian Prime Minister Morrison (left) and French President Macron.

The United States and Britain are busy "extinguishing fires", the Australian prime minister's call to Macron failed

　　The French side also emphasized that it hopes Australia and the United States will give an explanation.

　　US Secretary of State Blincoln quickly stated on the 16th that France is a "key partner" in the Indo-Pacific region and emphasized that Washington will continue to cooperate with France.

　　According to Reuters, Brinken’s remarks seem to be aimed at quelling France’s anger over the announcement of a new trilateral security partnership between the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.

　　Brinken also added that Washington had been in contact with Paris before announcing its nuclear-powered submarine project with Australia.

　　However, a French official, who asked not to be named, said that until French officials saw reports about the transaction and raised questions to their American counterparts, Americans would notify them.

　　Australian Prime Minister Morrison explained that the United States only shared nuclear submarine technology with Britain before, so it has now made a different decision than five years ago.

After all, allowing the United States to share nuclear submarine technology is a privilege that only a few US allies have.

　　According to reports, Morrison originally wanted to call French President Macron to explain to him on the 15th, but to no avail, he said he would try to call Macron again.

Australia and the United States continue to expand cooperation, US military aircraft will be deployed to Australia in turn

　　However, the United States and Australia have not stopped their continued cooperation.

On the 16th, following the submarine agreement, Australia and the United States announced the expansion of military cooperation, including the deployment of all types of US military aircraft to Australia in turn.

　　British Prime Minister Johnson claimed on the 16th when asked about a new defense agreement with Australia and the United States that undermined the existing French-Australian submarine deal, claiming that the relationship between Britain and France is "solid as a rock."

　　On the other hand, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Porrier said: “We regret that we were not informed first and were not able to participate in this type of discussion. I understand how disappointed the French government will be.”

　　However, another EU spokesperson emphasized that AUKUS will not affect the relationship between the EU and the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia.

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