The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) said that it faces challenges in preserving the global order from "authoritarian powers" such as Russia and China, following the announcement of the new US-British-Australian security agreement (Ocos) and the crisis of the submarine deal with France.

The head of NATO's Military Committee said the alliance faces challenges in preserving the world order from "authoritarian powers" such as Russia and China, adding that it needs unity between the two sides of the Atlantic to stand together in the face of challenges.

These statements come ahead of a meeting of the chiefs of staff of NATO member states on Saturday in the Greek capital, Athens.

The Military Committee of NATO countries, meeting in Athens, will discuss the alliance's defense plans, and the alliance's military operations around the world.

The committee, which includes the chiefs of staff of the NATO countries, discusses the dangers coming from Russia and China and the future of the alliance within the framework of its 2030 plan. The committee also discusses strengthening the partnership between European countries and North America.

The meeting comes at a time when the European Union seeks to form a separate military force to operate independently after the withdrawal from Afghanistan last month, and the expected announcement of a partnership with NATO before the end of this year.

The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) confirmed that the United States considers agreements between Washington and Moscow on arms control, and negotiations with Russia on strategic stability important for the whole world.


submarine crisis

On the other hand, the United States and Australia said they regretted France's decision to recall its ambassadors in Washington and Canberra against the backdrop of Australia canceling a submarine deal with France, which Paris described as a stab in the back, and the US administration said it was in contact with French officials to resolve the dispute.

The White House stated that the United States regrets France's decision to recall its ambassador from Washington, Philippe Etienne, and added that Washington will continue to work in the coming days with Paris to resolve differences between the two countries.

US National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horn said that Washington is in close contact with its French partners regarding the decision to recall the ambassador to Paris for consultations, and Horn added - in a statement - that the United States understands France's position and will continue to engage with it in the coming days to resolve their differences, as they did on issues other over the course of their long alliance.

And US Defense Department spokesman John Kirby said that senior officials in the administration of President Joe Biden had been in contact with their French counterparts about Washington's submarine deal with Australia, and Kirby indicated in a press conference that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to his French counterpart Florence Parly. Yesterday, Friday, about the partnership between Washington and Paris.

Last Wednesday, Australia announced that it would cancel a $40 billion deal with France to build a fleet of conventional submarines, and would instead build at least 8 nuclear-powered submarines with American and British technology, after concluding a tripartite security partnership between London, Washington and Canberra.

Ongoing contacts

The US State Department said Washington would continue to discuss the dispute with France, including at the United Nations General Assembly next week.

US State Department spokesman Ned Price added that France "is a vital partner and oldest ally, and we place the highest value on our relationship."

In Australia, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Canberra noted with regret Paris' decision to recall its ambassador to Australia. The spokesman added that his country values ​​its relationship with France, "and we look forward to communicating with France again on many common issues, on the basis of common values."

Yesterday, Australian Foreign Minister Maris Payne expressed her country's understanding of France's disappointment after the decision to abandon the purchase of submarines from it, adding that her country would continue to work "constructively and closely with our colleagues in France."


stab in the back

And the French Foreign Ministry said yesterday, Friday, that - at the request of the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron - it was decided to summon the French ambassadors to America and Australia immediately for consultation, against the background of the “Aukus” security agreement between America, Britain and Australia, which Paris considered a “stab in the back.” .

The statement condemned the abandonment of the submarine deal concluded by Australia and France since 2016, and said that the announcement of a new partnership with the United States is unacceptable behavior and its consequences will affect France's concept of its alliances and partnerships, and the importance of the Indo-Pacific region for Europe.

The French ambassador to Washington, Philippe Etienne, said - in a tweet - that he was summoned to Paris for consultations after what he said were declarations that directly affect his country's alliances and partnerships and the importance of the Indo-Pacific region to Europe.

Before the decision to summon the two ambassadors, the French authorities canceled a party that was scheduled to be held on Friday in Washington to commemorate the anniversary of a decisive naval battle during the American Revolution, in which France played a major role.

The French Foreign Ministry described abandoning the submarine project that linked Australia with France since 2016 as unacceptable behavior between allies, while Australia rejected French criticism, and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday that he had raised the possibility that his country would cancel a submarine deal concluded in 2016 with a French company in Talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in June, rejecting French criticism that it had not received warnings.

Australia's decision is part of a security partnership that it announced with the United States and the United Kingdom last Wednesday, and the partnership includes the Indo-Pacific region.

On Friday, Paris expressed its inability to trust Australia in the ongoing talks on a trade deal with the European Union.