France, Australia to jointly produce Ukraine-bound 155mm ammo
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The French Defense Minister and his Australian counterpart said joint cooperation between the countries can achieve "some synergies".
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French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu (L) and Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles (AFP)
The defense ministers of France and Australia announced on Monday that their countries will provide Ukraine with 155mm shells that are compatible with the artillery pieces supplied by Kiev's western allies.
"Several thousand 155mm shells will be manufactured jointly [Between France and Australia]," France's Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said.
Australia's Defense Minister Richard Marles added that the "multi-million-dollar project" fit into "the ongoing level of support both France and Australia are providing Ukraine to make sure Ukraine is able to stay in this conflict and... see it concluded on its own terms."
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The meeting between the defense ministers took place in the presence of the countries' foreign ministers, France's Catherine Colonna and Australia's Penny Wong.
Lecornu noted that the package would be "significant" and that "an effort that will be kept up over time," with the first deliveries expected to be during the early months of 2023.
Marles noted that "there are some unique capabilities that exist in Australia and some synergies that can be achieved by Australia and France working together" to produce the ammunition.
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France's state-owned Nexter Systems will manufacture the shells, while the gunpowder for the production will be supplied by Australia, the French Defense Minister said.
It's noteworthy that the ties between the two nations witnessed high tensions after Australia canceled an order for French submarines in favor of American nuclear-powered submarines back in 2021.
Australia's decision came in light of an alliance formed that year, AUKUS, between the United States, the UK, and Australia, to boost nuclear capabilities and "strengthen stability in the Indo-Pacific region."
Read more: Australia: French Submarines Not in Line with Our Strategic Interests
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs said then that the decision to go with US submarines was "contrary to the letter and the spirit of the cooperation that prevailed between France and Australia."
France's Foreign Minister also expressed his anger over what he identified as a betrayal.
"It's really a stab in the back. We had established a relationship of trust with Australia, this trust has been betrayed," he said then.
