Submarine Scandal: France Doubts Strength of Its Alliance with NATO, Macron and Biden to Hold Talks, Australia's Decision Unchanged

France's Foreign Ministry accused the US and Australia of duplicity over the creation of a military alliance.

The creation of a new defense partnership between the United States, Britain and Australia has sharply worsened relations between these countries and France.

More on how France is reacting to the creation of AUKUS and the collapse of a multibillion-dollar deal with Australia. 

France's doubts about the strength of its alliance with NATO

France described relations with NATO as strained amid reports that Australia has decided to cancel its contract with the French Naval Group for the design and construction of submarines.

French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian said on September 18 on French channel France 2 that this decision had complicated Paris's cooperation with the North Atlantic Alliance.

Jean-Yves Le Drian
French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs

The strength of the alliance with the United States should also be questioned. If we are talking about a true alliance, its members talk to each other and show mutual respect, which was not the case in this instance.

According to the head of France's foreign ministry, this decision has put NATO's new strategic concept under threat. In this regard, the French foreign minister spoke of "lies and a lack of trust." 

"This is unacceptable, it is a sign of a crisis. Paris learned of the US and Australia deal one hour before its official announcement," Le Drian said.

Accusations of "duplicity and opportunism"

France's top diplomat also accused Australia and the US of "duplicity," "a serious breach of trust" and "disregard."

At the same time, Le Drian said France "saw no need" to recall its ambassador to Britain, accusing the country of "constant opportunism." According to Le Drian, "Britain in all this is like a third wheel."

"The fact that, for the first time in the history of relations between the US and France, we are recalling our ambassador for consultations is a serious political act that shows the scale of the crisis that now exists between our countries."

Macron and Biden talks

In connection with Paris losing the defense contract, a phone call between the presidents of France and the United States is scheduled in the coming days to discuss the situation surrounding the submarine contract.

French government spokesperson Gabriel Attal said the conversation will take place at the request of the American president.

"Emmanuel Macron will ask for an explanation. We want explanations for what looks like a serious breach of trust," Attal said.

Attal assured that the French government wants to "find a way forward with its partners, but without trust, this does not work."

Australia's reaction

Australia defended its decision to abandon the multibillion-dollar order for French submarines and instead choose an alternative deal with the US and Britain.

"I do not regret the decision to put Australia's national interests first," said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Morrison said he understood France's disappointment over the cancellation of the order, which was valued at $40 billion in 2016 and is estimated to cost far more today, but reiterated that Australia must always make decisions in its own interests.

"This is an issue that I raised directly several months ago, and we have continued to discuss these matters, including with defense ministers and others," he said at a briefing.

As part of its new trilateral security partnership, Australia will build at least eight nuclear-powered submarines using American and British technology. 

The terminated deal, concluded with the French naval group in 2016, was related to a fleet of conventional submarines.