Franco-Australian defense cooperation “has assumed” since the camoufla of the huge aborted contract for French submarines in 2021, said the French ambassador to Australia on Sunday, July 13.
Trust had broken in September 2021 when the former Australian government had suddenly canceled a contract of 56 billion euros for submarines of the French Naval Group group, preferring it to submarines with British or American nuclear propulsion.
Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom have combined in the security area under their Aukus pact. The announcement had been experienced by France as a Real stab of the Australian government.
Jean-Yves Le Drian, the Minister of Foreign Affairs at that time, had talked about a “betrayal.” Rare decision with friendly countries, Paris reminded its ambassadors to Washington and Camberra “for consultations.”
The weakened aukus
However, more and more questions have appeared in recent months. An American defense officer revealed in June that this pact was being reviewed to ensure that he remains in accordance with the objectives of President Donald Trump.
In addition, American shipyards are struggling to meet the production objectives of ships commanded by Canberra. The submarines promised by Washington could be delivered late, if they are delivered.
In 2024, in The Guardian, a former Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, said he fears that his country “does not have underwater capacity for a large part of the next decade.”
Questioned about the possibility of a new contract for submarines with Australia if the Aukus agreement arrived at the company, the French ambassador did not want to speculate.
“A problem for Australia”
“I would say that it is rather a problem for Australia for the moment. And, of course, we are still dialogue with our Australian friends,” said ambassador Pierre-André Imbert.
“Now, the first pillars of our cooperation are defense and security,” said Ambassador Pierre-André Imbert, describing an association “at a very good level”, while the French forces joined the Australian army for magnitude maneuvers in the region.
The bilateral relationship in this area “has assumed” from the elections in 2022 of the current Australian work prime minister, Anthony Albanese, according to Pierre-Anré Imbert.
Source: BFM TV
