Macron and Biden will try to ease the tension over the sale of submarines to Australia

President of the United States, Joe Biden, and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, will discuss the dispute regarding military agreementr between Washington and Australia, where the last country Canceled a multi-million dollar purchase of French submarines for American ships.

The United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom Last week announced a strategic partnership to counter China, called Okos, which includes supplying American submarines From nuclear power to Canberra, knocking the French out of the game.

French government spokesman Gabriel Attal told BFMTV that Macron would ask Biden for “clarification” and “clarifications” about what “appears to be a major breach of trust”.

“There will be a phone conversation in the next few days” between the two presidents, on Biden’s initiative, the official added.

negation

For its part, the government Australia rejected the charges from France for lying about his plans to canceling the contract Buying French submarines for the Americans.

France is angry at Australia’s decision to withdraw from A $50,000 millionPurchase of French submarines for US ships.

Paris invited its ambassadors to the United States and Australia to consult on Friday after accusing the two countries of “lying” about breaching the contract, an unprecedented decision between allies.

A few hours ago, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison denied that he lied about the contract to purchase the submarine.

“I think they have every reason to know that we have deep and serious reservations about the fact that the attack-class capabilities of a submarine do not serve our strategic interests and we have made it clear that we will make a decision based on our national strategic interest,” Morrison stated at a press conference in Sydney.

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Morrison said he understood the French government’s “disappointment”, but said it raised issues with the deal “a few months ago”, as did other Australian government ministers.

In turn, the new British Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, defended London’s position on the defense pact with the United States and Australia.

paradox

Paris had considered it pointless to summon its ambassador in London to consult, and, paradoxically, through its foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, regarding “permanent opportunism” The United Kingdom described this country as the “fifth wheel of the car”.

In her article, the British minister does not allude to the tensions with France, but highlights the “Global Britain” mantra around the UK’s post-Brexit position, much encouraged by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Le Drian said in an interview with France 2 television that the submarine case had caused a “serious crisis”.

“There was a lie (…), duplicity (…), a great betrayal of trust” and “contempt” on the part of France’s allies, said the chancellor.

Le Drian also estimated that this crisis would affect the definition of the new strategic concept of NATO, without mentioning, however, a departure from NATO.

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