Paris: France’s ambassador to Australia says Australian officials lied to their faces and risked a confrontation in Asia by framing a secret submarine deal with the US and Britain that undermined confidence in democratic alliances.
Ambassador Jean-Pierre Thébault said on Friday that France is committed to defending its interests in the Indo-Pacific region and emphasizing Europe’s geopolitical strategy. He spoke in an interview with the Associated Press before going back to his position in Canberra.
The way you treat your colleagues resonates in the field, Thébault said in a gilded chamber at the French Foreign Ministry on the banks of the Seine River in Paris. The logic of confrontation is not good for the peace and stability of the region. We feel we should act otherwise.”
Thebault was recalled to Paris last month along with the French ambassador to the US. The unprecedented diplomatic move reflected the depth of Frances’ anger over a deal for Australia to acquire a fleet of eight nuclear-powered submarines built with American technology.
The deal, hidden from French authorities, ended a previous $66 billion contract for Australia to buy 12 conventional diesel-electric submarines from a French manufacturer.
Beyond the broken contract, France felt that long-standing alliances had been crushed, and its interests in the Pacific where there are 2 million civilians in French territories and 7,000 military troops were ignored.
I don’t understand how it was possible to tell such a lie. I don’t understand how people, many of whom I know, were able to lie to me… for 18 months face-to-face, Thebault said of working with the Australian authorities.
He said France makes nuclear-powered submarines, but said Australia had refused them when their deal was first struck in 2016, opting for diesel-powered versions instead.
He said, you could at least… have a frank and honest conversation, which never happened.
Rebuking a country like France is almost sending a message that there are trustworthy partners and other partners, which is a matter of concern in a region that needs partnership, not animosity,” he said.
That’s why France is turning to other reliable partners in the region, he said, naming India, Japan, Korea, New Zealand.
He said presenting the Indo-Pacific strategy to the European Union would be a priority for France as it takes the rotating presidency of the European Union on January 1.
He said the rise of China is an issue that needs to be addressed, along with climate change and its effects on islands across the Pacific Ocean. He emphasized the importance of international rules, respect for human rights, respect for freedom of navigation, respect for the sovereignty of countries.
France last month returned its ambassador to the United States, a NATO partner. French President Emmanuel Macron and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met in Paris this week, and Blinken told French TV that “we could and we should have communicated better.” President Joe Bidens’ national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said Met his French counterpart this week.
But Thebault remains in Paris.
On Wednesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told a parliamentary committee that the ambassador would return to Canberra to help protect French interests in redefining the terms of bilateral relations and terminating the contract. Thebault is expected to depart next week.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison welcomed the decision, saying the bilateral relationship is bigger than the canceled submarine contract. But Thebault suggests there is still work to be done before the relationship returns to normal.
Morrison said Macron would not take his call. This week, trade minister Dan Tehan was rebuffed by French officials in Paris. And talks on a free trade deal between Australia and the European Union due this month have been postponed until November.
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Angela Charlton in Paris contributed.
Disclaimer: This post has been self-published from the agency feed without modification and has not been reviewed by an editor
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