Doubtful Australia can do much destroying with nuclear powered subs without nuclear arms within arena of A.I.-enabled battle-dimensions so many years into the future
In the meantime much drama for amusement of watch & brief
nbcnews.com
France says Australia made 'huge mistake' with U.S. submarine deal
State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that France was a 'vital ally' and that the United States would be engaged in coming days to resolve the differences.
Reuters
Sept. 18, 2021, 7:13 PM HKT
CANBERRA, Australia — Australia has made a "huge" diplomatic error, the French ambassador said on Saturday having been recalled to Paris after Canberra ditched a multibillion dollar order for French submarines in favor of an alternative deal with the United States and Britain.
"I think this has been a huge mistake, a very, very bad handling of the partnership — because it wasn't a contract, it was a partnership that was supposed to be based on trust, mutual understanding and sincerity," Ambassador Jean-Pierre Thebault told journalists in Canberra.
Australia said on Thursday it would scrap the deal signed in 2016 for France's Naval Group to build a fleet of conventional submarines and would instead build at least eight nuclear-powered submarines with U.S. and British technology after striking a trilateral security partnership.
The pact comes as the U.S. steps up its efforts to counter China in the Indo-Pacific.
France called the cancellation of the deal — valued at $40 billion in 2016 and reckoned to be worth a lot more today — a stab in the back and recalled its ambassadors from the United States and Australia.
Before he was recalled, French envoy Thebault said he found out about the U.S. submarine deal from the Australian media.David Gray / AP"I would like to run into a time machine, if possible, and be in a situation where we don't end up in such an incredible, clumsy, inadequate un-Australian situation," Thebault said.
"I'm very sad to be forced to leave, albeit there needs to be some reassessment to be made."
Australia said it regretted the recall of the French ambassador, and that it valued the relationship with France and would keep engaging with Paris on other issues.
"Australia understands France's deep disappointment with our decision, which was taken in accordance with our clear and communicated national security interests," a spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne said in a statement.
Payne and Defense Minister Peter Dutton are currently in the United States for annual talks with their U.S. counterparts and their first with President Joe Biden’s administration.
State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that France was a 'vital ally' and that the United States would be engaged in coming days to resolve the differences.
The feud marks the lowest point in relations between Australia and France since 1995, when Canberra protested France's decision to resume nuclear testing in the South Pacific and recalled its ambassador for consultations.
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.
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