France Declares a “Crisis of Trust" Over US-Australia Submarine Deal
Paris says it needs clarifications and explanations from the US after the submarine deal.
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French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian
France's foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Monday that when US President Joe Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron meet later this week, the US will need to provide explanations and clarifications.
Speaking to reporters in New York, Jean-Yves Le Drian stated that the United States must also consider the interests of its European allies.
Earlier, the top French diplomat declared that there is a “crisis of trust” in the United States after his country was sandbagged by the submarine deal between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, which resulted in France losing a contract to sell submarines to Australia.
Besides, Elysee Palace official told Reuters on Monday that France began doubting Australia's commitment to a $40 billion submarine order in June.
According to the official, there was no mention of the contract cancellation when Macron met Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Paris in mid-June, shortly after the G7 leaders met in Britain.
The US and its "lack of loyalty"
On his account, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that European Union foreign ministers expressed support and solidarity with France at a meeting in New York to discuss Australia's decision to cancel a $40 billion submarine order with Paris in favor of a US-British deal.
Earlier, a senior official told reporters in New York that Biden wants to speak on the phone with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss Macron’s anger at a deal reached between the United States, Australia, and Britain.
The Belgian Charles Michel, President of the European Council, slammed the United States on Monday for its "lack of loyalty" in the submarine crisis.
What do you need to know?
Australia announced last week that it was canceling a contract with France for conventional submarines and would instead build nuclear-powered submarines with US and British technology after forming a security partnership with those countries.
Furthermore, US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison issued a joint statement announcing the formation of a new defense and security partnership called “AUKUS,” with the first project in its framework being the construction of nuclear submarines.
