- Sputnik International, 1920, 24.01.2023
Asia
Find top stories and features from Asia and the Pacific region. Keep updated on major political stories and analyses from Asia and the Pacific. All you want to know about China, Japan, North and South Korea, India and Pakistan, Southeast Asia and Oceania.

France Says It Cannot Trust Australia in Trade Talks After Canberra Ditched Joint Sub Deal

© AFP 2023 / Naval GroupThis handout picture taken on July 18, 2020 and released on October 20, 2020 by French shipbuilder Naval Group shows new French navy nuclear attack submarine Suffren, a Barracuda class, arriving at Toulon's naval base
This handout picture taken on July 18, 2020 and released on October 20, 2020 by French shipbuilder Naval Group shows new French navy nuclear attack submarine Suffren, a Barracuda class, arriving at Toulon's naval base - Sputnik International, 1920, 17.09.2021
Subscribe
Australia previously dropped a $90-billion agreement with the French firm Naval Group under which the latter was supposed to build several attack-class submarines for the country. Paris has already slammed the move, prompted by the US promise to Canberra for nuclear-powered submarines, calling it a "stab in the back".
Paris can no longer trust Australia in ongoing negotiations on a trade deal between Canberra and the EU now that the former has decided to suddenly terminate the contract for buying French submarines, France's European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune has stated.
"We're having trade negotiations with Australia. I don't see how we can trust our Australian partners".
Clement Beaune
France's European Affairs Minister
Australia has been in talks to sign an agreement with the European Union, its biggest trading partner, since 2018 having gone through 11 rounds of talks. The next one is due to take place this autumn and is supposed to cover issues of trade, services, investment, and intellectual property rights.
However, now the progress in negotiations, led by the European Commission, is in question since Canberra chose to ditch the $90-billion contract with the partly state-owned French company Naval Group to build 12 conventionally powered submarines based on Barracuda nuclear-powered subs. Canberra announced the move soon after the US, the UK, and Australia proclaimed the creation of a new military alliance dubbed AUKUS to operate in the Indo-Pacific region. Under this new union, the US agreed to sell Australia nuclear-powered submarines.
A Rivercat ferry passes by the Royal Australian Navy's newest Collins class submarine, HMAS Waller - Sputnik International, 1920, 16.09.2021
France Reportedly Cancels Washington Gala After 'Betrayal' Submarine Deal
France condemned Australia's move to abandon the 2016 sub deal, calling it a "stab in the back". Paris also reportedly called off a gala event that was supposed to be held by the French Embassy in Washington and signify strong ties between the two NATO partners.
Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала