Canberra: FranceAmbassador of Australia It has been described as Australia’s “big mistake” for canceling a major submarine contract in favor of a US deal, as diplomats prepared to leave the country in an unprecedented anger among allies.
French envoy Jean-Pierre Thébault made his remarks on Saturday as he left his residence in the capital of Canberra.
“It has been a huge mistake, a very poor management of the partnership,” Thebault said, explaining that the arms agreement between Paris and Canberra was supposed to be “based on trust, mutual understanding and honesty”.
Paris recalled its ambassadors on Friday to protest an agreement between the United States, Australia and Britain to supply Australia with a fleet of at least eight nuclear-powered submarines.
The deal ends a 90 billion Australian dollar ($66 billion) contract with the French-majority state-owned Naval Group signed in 2016 to build 12 conventional diesel-electric submarines.
“I want to be able to walk into a time machine and be in a position where we don’t end up in such an unreliable, clumsy, inadequate, un-Australian situation,” the French ambassador said.
Australian Foreign Minister Marise payneThe U.S. office had earlier issued a statement noting Canberra’s “sorry” over the diplomat’s recall and his aide’s withdrawal of his representative.
“Australia understands France’s deep disappointment with our decision, which was taken in accordance with our clear and communicated national security interests,” the statement said. It added that Australia values its relationship with France and looks forward to engaging together in the future.
Payne and Secretary of Defense Peter Dutton are currently in the United States for annual talks with their American counterparts and for their first interaction with the President Joe BidenAdministration of
Before being called back, French envoy Thébault said on Friday that he learned of the US submarine deal, “like everyone else, thanks to the Australian press.”
“We were never informed of any major changes,” Thebault said. “There were many opportunities and many channels. This kind of change was never mentioned.”
After the US deal became public this week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison He said he told French President Emmanuel Macron in June that there were “very real issues about whether a conventional submarine capability” would meet Australia’s strategic security needs in the Indo-Pacific.
Morrison did not specifically mention China’s massive military build-up, which had gained momentum in recent years.
Morrison was in Paris on his way home from the Group of Seven summit in Britain, where he held talks with soon-to-be coalition partners Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Thebault said he was also in the meeting with Macron and Morrison.
Morrison noted that “there were changes in the regional situation,” but gave no indication that Australia was considering switching to nuclear propulsion, Thebault said.
“Everything should have been done with complete transparency between the two partners,” he said.
Thebault said the difficulties faced by the project were common to its scale and large transfer of technologies.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves the drian said in a statement on Friday that the recall of the two ambassadors, at Macron’s request, is “justified by the extraordinary seriousness of the declarations” made by Australia and the United States.
Le Drian said Australia’s decision to cancel the purchase of the submarine in favor of a nuclear sub made with American technology is “an unacceptable behavior between allies and partners.”
senior opposition legislator mark dreyfus Calling upon the Australian Government to improve its relations with France.
“The impact on our relations with France is a matter of concern, especially as a country with significant interests in our region,” Dreyfus said.
“France was blinded by the decision and Morrison should have done more to protect the relationship,” he said.
French envoy Jean-Pierre Thébault made his remarks on Saturday as he left his residence in the capital of Canberra.
“It has been a huge mistake, a very poor management of the partnership,” Thebault said, explaining that the arms agreement between Paris and Canberra was supposed to be “based on trust, mutual understanding and honesty”.
Paris recalled its ambassadors on Friday to protest an agreement between the United States, Australia and Britain to supply Australia with a fleet of at least eight nuclear-powered submarines.
The deal ends a 90 billion Australian dollar ($66 billion) contract with the French-majority state-owned Naval Group signed in 2016 to build 12 conventional diesel-electric submarines.
“I want to be able to walk into a time machine and be in a position where we don’t end up in such an unreliable, clumsy, inadequate, un-Australian situation,” the French ambassador said.
Australian Foreign Minister Marise payneThe U.S. office had earlier issued a statement noting Canberra’s “sorry” over the diplomat’s recall and his aide’s withdrawal of his representative.
“Australia understands France’s deep disappointment with our decision, which was taken in accordance with our clear and communicated national security interests,” the statement said. It added that Australia values its relationship with France and looks forward to engaging together in the future.
Payne and Secretary of Defense Peter Dutton are currently in the United States for annual talks with their American counterparts and for their first interaction with the President Joe BidenAdministration of
Before being called back, French envoy Thébault said on Friday that he learned of the US submarine deal, “like everyone else, thanks to the Australian press.”
“We were never informed of any major changes,” Thebault said. “There were many opportunities and many channels. This kind of change was never mentioned.”
After the US deal became public this week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison He said he told French President Emmanuel Macron in June that there were “very real issues about whether a conventional submarine capability” would meet Australia’s strategic security needs in the Indo-Pacific.
Morrison did not specifically mention China’s massive military build-up, which had gained momentum in recent years.
Morrison was in Paris on his way home from the Group of Seven summit in Britain, where he held talks with soon-to-be coalition partners Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Thebault said he was also in the meeting with Macron and Morrison.
Morrison noted that “there were changes in the regional situation,” but gave no indication that Australia was considering switching to nuclear propulsion, Thebault said.
“Everything should have been done with complete transparency between the two partners,” he said.
Thebault said the difficulties faced by the project were common to its scale and large transfer of technologies.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves the drian said in a statement on Friday that the recall of the two ambassadors, at Macron’s request, is “justified by the extraordinary seriousness of the declarations” made by Australia and the United States.
Le Drian said Australia’s decision to cancel the purchase of the submarine in favor of a nuclear sub made with American technology is “an unacceptable behavior between allies and partners.”
senior opposition legislator mark dreyfus Calling upon the Australian Government to improve its relations with France.
“The impact on our relations with France is a matter of concern, especially as a country with significant interests in our region,” Dreyfus said.
“France was blinded by the decision and Morrison should have done more to protect the relationship,” he said.
.