Submarines, EU: trust with US eroded, relationship reset

Thierry Breton (Getty)

• France: 'The submarine affair will weigh on the future of NATO'

• US-Gb-Australia, anti-China pact: agreement with France for submarine supply skips

• "Aukus" pact: France recalls ambassadors, consultations

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September 21, 2021After the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and the Aukus agreement between the US, Australia and the UK "there is a strong perception that trust between the EU and the US has been eroded. So now is probably the time to pause and reset our relationship. " This was stated by the European Commissioner for the Internal Market,

, at the Atlantic Council in Washington. "In Europe there is a growing feeling that something has broken in our transatlantic relations", added Breton, also insisting on the need for a "common defense for Europe" to be able "to act alone when necessary".

On the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly in New York the president of the European Council,

, and the Australian Prime Minister,

, had a very frank and direct exchange on recent developments in the Indo-Pacific region on both form and content, as is sometimes necessary between friends. It is learned from an EU official.

The two agreed that "transparency and dialogue are key to maintaining the rules-based international order and that partners should inform each other on issues of broad geostrategic importance. In the G7 in Cardis Bay, the partners agreed to have a continuous dialogue between liberal democracies on issues of common interest ".

"The EU and Australia have a common interest in the Indo-Pacific region. The region is of strategic importance to EU interests. It will be important for Australia to engage with the EU and its member states to build trust and a strong partnership. Both leaders have decided to stay in direct contact. "

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said upon his arrival in New York that he would not discuss the thorny issue of canceling the submarine program with France with French President Emmanuel Macron at the United Nations General Assembly meeting. this week. "There is no opportunity to do it now. I am sure this opportunity will come in due course," Morrison said, referring to France's displeasure over the sudden cancellation of the contract, which Paris described as "betrayal" and which prompted the recall of its ambassador to Australia and the United States for consultations.

After Australia's response to France's "double game" accusations, with Canberra claiming to have acted "according to the rules" in the submarine affair, Paris finalizes its version and confirms the Australian "betrayal" on the maxi-bet from 56 billion euros. The Ministry of Armed Forces in Paris, in a briefing, confirmed that nothing had leaked about the intentions of the Australians to break the contract and that the Naval Group's supply responded point by point to the requests made in 2009 by the Australians. The ministry confirmed that Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton called his French colleague Florence Parly only "hours" before the decision was officially announced. Before this phone call,there was nothing to suggest that Australia - the ministry assured - would change its mind, contrary to what Canberra claims. The Australians, in fact, in recent days have repeatedly reiterated that for years they have communicated to France concerns about delays, the increase in costs and above all doubts about the relevance of the initial choice on the type of submarine. "On August 30, 2021 - explains the ministry presenting a letter from the Australian government expressing" satisfaction "- Florence Parly and the Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, again validated the program with their Australian counterparts. treason is not exaggerated. " Therefore, the Australian claims about Dutton's alleged contacts with Parly that lasted months and focused on Australian doubts have been denied: "There is noit was no warning, no discussion proposal. "