France accuses Australia and US of ‘lying, breach of trust’ in escalating crisis

‘There has been lying, duplicity, a major breach of trust and contempt. This will not do,’ said Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in a TV interview

Explaining why France had not also recalled its ambassador from Britain, he said the country was unsurprised by the UK’s ‘constant opportunism’

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French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:55am, 19 Sep 2021Updated: 7:53pm, 19 Sep 2021

France on Saturday accused Australia and the United States of lying over a ruptured Australian contract to buy French submarines, saying a crisis was under way between the allies.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday recalled the ambassadors to Canberra and Washington in an unprecedented move to signal his fury over Australia’s decision to break a deal for the French submarines in favour of American nuclear-powered vessels.

The row has, for now, ended hopes of a post-Donald Trump renaissance in relations between Paris and Washington under President Joe Biden and also focused French attention on boosting the European Union’s security strategy as it ponders Nato’s future.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday recalled the ambassadors to Canberra and Washington. Photo: EPA

Speaking to France 2 television, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian gave no indication Paris was prepared to let the crisis die down, using distinctly undiplomatic language towards Australia, the US and Britain, which is also part of the three-way security pact.

“There has been lying, duplicity, a major breach of trust and contempt. This will not do,” Le Drian said.