France Expresses Dissatisfaction with AUKUS: "A Decision That Reminds Us of Trump"

French Foreign Minister "Not Something Allies Should Do"
Expresses Anger Over Cancellation of Submarine Supply Contract with Australia

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia have launched a new Indo-Pacific security alliance called AUKUS and officially announced the transfer of nuclear submarine technology to Australia, prompting strong dissatisfaction from France towards AUKUS. This technology transfer has deepened the conflict as Australia unilaterally canceled its existing submarine supply contract with the French defense company Naval Group. It is also reported that voices of concern are rising within the European Union (EU) over the U.S. prioritizing alliances with the UK and Australia while ignoring France, an EU member state.

On the 16th (local time), Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, appeared on the local media France Info Radio and expressed his dissatisfaction with AUKUS. He said, "We were truly stabbed in the back. We built a relationship of trust with Australia but were betrayed. I am very angry today. This is not something allies should do," harshly criticizing the move. He also strongly criticized the U.S., saying, "This cruel, unilateral, and unpredictable decision seemed like something Trump would do."

Florence Parly, French Minister of Defense, also warned in an interview with RFI Radio that Australia, which broke its promise, "will face very bad news." She added, "We are closely watching how the U.S. treated its allies," and pointed out, "This is serious in terms of geopolitics and international relations."

The reason French senior officials expressed such anger is that Australia, with the support of the U.S. and the UK through the establishment of AUKUS, decided to develop nuclear-powered submarines, thereby canceling its existing submarine contract with the French defense company Naval Group. Previously, Australia had signed a submarine supply contract with Naval Group estimated at 56 billion euros (about 77 trillion won) for up to 12 submarines. Naval Group also issued a statement saying, "We have done our best in both France and Australia over the past five years and kept all promises," expressing "great disappointment" over this decision.

Concerns are also emerging within the EU. CNN quoted a senior EU official saying, "The belligerent English-speaking countries are forming an anti-China alliance, and they were equally belligerent in Iraq and Afghanistan," adding, "Everyone knows the results of those wars." Inside the EU, there are worries that the U.S. values its relationships with certain reliable allies like the UK and Australia, who can actually deploy military forces to counter China, more than its relationship with the EU, which still has high trade dependence on China and seeks to maintain a close relationship, CNN reported.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.