The submarine deal .. Despite Washington's assurances, France talks about undermining confidence between allies and Europe, asking for an explanation

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian described Australia's termination of a submarine deal with his country as evidence of the erosion of confidence between allies, and said that Washington is required to provide explanations and clarifications to Paris when US President Joe Biden speaks with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron later this week.

Le Drian told reporters in New York that the United States needs to take into account the interests of its European allies, considering that the new US strategy with Britain and Australia in the Pacific and Indian Oceans is an indication of a confrontational trend with China.

The French minister added that the question raised today is: What is behind the termination of an industrial contract in a crude, unexpected and without explanation?

"This contract dates back to 2016 and was in the process of implementation, and what happened represents a breach of trust between the partners, because trust, alliance and partnership mean transparency, predictability, and non-concealment, especially in important issues."

For her part, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said - in a television interview she conducted on the sidelines of her participation in the United Nations General Assembly - that a member of the European Union was treated unacceptable, adding that "this requires clarification, before we can return to things in their form." natural.”

In turn, the European Union's High Commissioner for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell expressed the European bloc's surprise by announcing a defense alliance between the United States, Britain and Australia.

Borrell said that during their meeting in New York, the European Union foreign ministers expressly expressed their solidarity with France, and the European official also expressed his regret for excluding the US alliance with Australia and Britain, the European partners.

Washington's position

On the other hand, the United States stressed that France is its "oldest ally and partner," and White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that President Biden will discuss by phone with his French counterpart several issues, including the submarine deal with Australia, which angered France.

The spokeswoman added that President Biden stressed in his last speech that "France represents a large presence in the Indo-Pacific region, is a major partner and ally, and contributes to enhancing global security and prosperity, and we continue to look forward to our close alliance with it, but there are no plans to abandon the submarine deal." ".

As for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, he stressed that his country's relationship with France is very important, historical and indestructible, and he said - in response to a question about the crisis caused by the AUKUS agreement - "Britain will talk with its friends about how to activate the agreement so that it is not exclusionary or divisive."

Meanwhile, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace made it clear that the agreement between London and Washington with Canberra regarding nuclear submarines was not an agreement on nuclear weapons, but rather to provide Canberra with nuclear propulsion technology.

New York meetings

Talks about the developments of the submarine deal dominated the meetings of European ministers on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, amid concern about the possible repercussions on the free trade talks between the European Union and Australia, whose next round will be held on October 12.

Relations between France on one side and the United States and Australia on the other entered an open crisis on Thursday, after Australia canceled a deal to buy French submarines and replace them with American nuclear-fueled ones.

Under the deal, Washington will provide Australia with advanced technology for nuclear-powered submarines, with the aim of helping it counter "China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region."

But the deal at the same time undermined an agreement with France to supply Australia with 12 diesel-powered submarines, and Paris previously described the deal as a "stab in the back".