world-regionsambassador toworld-regionsdescribed Saturday as a “huge mistake” Australia’s surprise cancellation of a major submarine contract in favor of a U.S. deal, delivering a final protest as the envoy was recalled from the country in an unprecedented show of anger among the allies.
Jean-Pierre Thebault delivered his comments as he left his residence in the infectious-diseaselocked down capital of Canberra.
“This has been a huge mistake, a very, very bad handling of the partnership,” Thebault said, explaining that the arms agreement between Paris and Canberra was supposed to be based “on trust, mutual understanding and sincerity.”
France’s Ambassador to Australia Jean-Pierre Thebault gestures as he arrives at Sydney Airport, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. Thebault has described as a "huge mistake" Australia’s surprise cancellation of a major submarine contract in favor of a U.S. deal, in an unprecedented show of anger among the allies. (AP Photo/David Gray)
(AP Photo/David Gray)
FRANCE RECALLS AMBASSADORS TO US AND AUSTRAILIA IN RESPONSE TO AUKUS NUCLEAR SUBMARINE PACT
Paris recalled its ambassadors to Australia and the United States on Friday to protest a deal among the United States, Australia and world-regions to supply Australia with a fleet of at least eight nuclear-power submarines.
Thebault flew out of Australia on a flight to Doha, Qatar, around 17 hours after the announcement from Paris.
The U.S. deal scraps a 90 billion Australian dollar ($66 billion) contract with French majority state-owned Naval Group, signed in 2016, to build 12 conventional diesel-electric submarines.
“I would like to be able to run into a time machine and be in a situation where we don’t end up in such an incredible, clumsy, inadequate, un-Australian situation,” the French ambassador added.
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne’s office earlier had issued a statement responding to the diplomat’s recall and noting Canberra’s “regret” over its ally’s withdrawal of its representative.
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne speaks during a news conference with Australian Minister of Defense Peter Dutton, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the State Department in Washington. Australia said on Saturday, Sept. 18, it regretted France’s decision to recall its ambassador over the surprise cancellation of a submarine contract. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS US-AUSTRAILIA SUBMARINE DEAL A ‘STAB IN THE BACK’
“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 looked forward to future engagements together.
Payne and Defense Minister Peter Dutton are currently in the United States for annual talks with their U.S. counterparts and their first with joe-biden” target=”_blank”>President Joe Biden’s administration< massive military buildup which had gained pace in recent years.
French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting Jerusalem this week for a Holocaust memorial conference.
(AP)
FRANCE ISSUES ANGRY RESPONSE TO NUCLEAR SUBMARINE DEAL BETWEEN US, UK, AUSTRAILIA
Morrison was in Paris on his way home from a Group of Seven nations summit in Britain where he had talks with soon-to-be-alliance partners Biden and boris-johnson” target=”_blank”>British Prime Minister Boris Johnson<
Senior opposition lawmaker Mark Dreyfus called on the Australian government to fix its relationship with France.
“The impact on our relationship with France is a concern, particularly as a country with important interests in our region,” Dreyfus said.
“The French were blindsided by this decision and Mr. Morrison should have done much more to protect the relationship,” he added.
