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France recalls ambassadors from US and Australia in protest over submarine deal

  • Paris’ move is in response to US-UK-Australia security partnership widely seen as a way to counter China
  • The trilateral pact includes nuclear-powered submarines, nullifying Canberra’s commitment to buy conventional vessels from France

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President Emmanuel Macron directed that France recall its ambassadors to the United States and Australia after Australia scrapped a purchase of French submarines in favour of nuclear-powered subs built with US technology. Photo: AFP

France recalled its ambassadors from the United States and Australia on Friday, a stunning development in the deepening fallout over Washington’s new security alliance with Canberra and London.

Announced on Wednesday, the new pact, known as “Aukus”, includes an agreement to help Australia secure a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, effectively nullifying a 2016 commitment Canberra had made to buy conventional vessels from France.

“At the request of the President of the Republic, I am recalling to Paris without delay our ambassadors to the United States and to Australia for consultations,” French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a statement.

“This exceptional decision is justified by the exceptional gravity of the announcements made on 15 September by Australia and the United States,” Le Drian said.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Friday that the move was “justified by the exceptional seriousness of the announcements” made by Australia and the United States”. Photo: AP
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Friday that the move was “justified by the exceptional seriousness of the announcements” made by Australia and the United States”. Photo: AP

Australia’s cancellation of its purchase of French submarines, along with its new partnership with the US and Britain, constituted “unacceptable behaviour between allies and partners”, Le Drian said, adding that the episode had direct impact on the “vision we have of our alliances, of our partnerships and of the importance of the Indo-Pacific for Europe”.

Owen joined the Post in 2018 after several years working as a reporter and editor in China. He covers US-China relations, human rights, and China's influence overseas. A co-founder of the Shanghai-based news outlet Sixth Tone, he is an alumnus of SOAS in London and Fudan University in Shanghai.
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