France warns new Aukus alliance threatens security partnerships in Indo-Pacific
- France ‘notes and regrets’ end of its submarine deal with Australia and will convene EU summit on European defence
- Alliance excluding European partners would be seen as ‘part of a pattern’ and in keeping with ‘America first’ focus under the Biden administration: analyst
“The American choice to exclude a European ally and partner such as France from a structuring partnership with Australia, at a time when we are facing unprecedented challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, whether in terms of our values or in terms of respect for multilateralism based on the rule of law, shows a lack of coherence that France can only note and regret,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said in a joint statement.
“The regrettable decision that has just been announced regarding the [future submarine programme] only reinforces the need to make the issue of European strategic autonomy loud and clear.”
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US, UK, Australia announce ‘historic’ military partnership in Pacific
Australia selected French shipbuilder Naval Group to build a US$40 billion new submarine fleet to replace its more than two-decades-old Collins submarines, but the deal was delayed over Canberra’s requirement that most of the manufacturing and components be sourced locally.