Solène Delinger 4:12 p.m., September 18, 2021

Australia announced Thursday, September 15 the termination of the gigantic contract concluded in 2016 with France for the order of conventional submarines, for the benefit of American nuclear-powered submersibles.

France, which has committed no fault, should receive "financial compensation to the tune of several hundred million euros," said Patrick Martin-Genier, professor at Sciences Po and specialist in European and international issues, at the microphone by Thierry Dagiral, on Europe 1.

INTERVIEW

After the humiliation, the compensation.

Betrayed by Australia, which brutally announced the termination of their "contract of the century", worth 31 billion euros, France could console itself thanks to the penalties paid to Naval Group.

Invited at the microphone of Thierry Dagiral on Europe 1, Patrick Martin-Genier, professor at Sciences Po and specialist in European and international issues, explained that France should receive "several hundred million euros" in financial compensation. 

A "financial disaster" for Australia

"France has not committed a fault, which seems to be the case, but if it has been accused of having fallen behind," he said.

"These financial compensation should amount to several hundred million euros, knowing that Australia had already committed between 2 and 3 billion euros in the project."

The addition could therefore be very heavy for Australia.

The penalties to be paid to Naval Group, which was to build the conventional submarines, are in fact estimated by the Australian press at around 250 million euros.

"It will be a financial disaster for Australia", maintains Patrick Martin-Genier at the microphone of Thierry Dagiral. 

An "unfair" breach of contract

A financial disaster for Australia therefore, and a snub for France. "The fact that Australia has decided to unilaterally break this contract is perfectly unfair. It is very serious," said the specialist in European and international issues. "France was taken by surprise at the last moment". And the financial compensation paid by Australia will not erase the bitter taste left by this double betrayal of Canberra and Washington.

Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced the recall of ambassadors to the United States and Australia "for consultations", a sign that the rag is burning. "This is the second degree of diplomatic protests," explains Patrick Martin Genier. "France's objective, possibly, is to obtain an apology, but above all political explanations for this sudden turnaround by Australia. There has been an attack on its international reputation," he concludes.