Submarine crisis: the leak of an SMS from Macron in the press rekindles tensions

French President Emmanuel Macron during the G20 in Rome on October 30, 2021. AP - Brendan Smialowski

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1 min

Paris has not taken off since the Australian government broke a 55 billion euro contract in mid-September for the delivery of 12 submarines for the benefit of the Americans.

The disclosure a few hours ago in the Australian press of a text message sent by Emmanuel Macron to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison further aggravates the diplomatic crisis. 

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If we are to believe the

, Emmanuel Macron would have asked Scott Morrison this question: "

" concerning the contract on the submarines?

An SMS which would have been sent two days before the termination of the contract and which would tend to prove that the French head of state suspected a possible about-face of Australia. 

A few hours before this article, Emmanuel Macron had declared on the sidelines of the G20

. 

Anger of the French Presidency

So are the revelations of the Australian press a response from the shepherd to the shepherdess?

In any case, they arouse the anger of the French presidency.

These methods are deemed "

" by a source close to the Head of State for whom this SMS "

" that

. 

While relations between the Americans and the French have warmed after Joe Biden admitted the "

" of the United States

last Friday

, relations with Australia continue to deteriorate. 

The presence of Scott Morrison on European soil for several days for the G20 in Rome and the COP26 in Glasgow could have been the occasion for a bilateral meeting with Emmanuel Macron but it has never been discussed so far.

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• Emmanuel Macron

• France

• Australia

• Diplomacy

• Scott Morrison