After Australia broke a mega-contract for French submarines in favor of the United States, US President Joe Biden asked for a meeting with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, the government said on Sunday.
“There will be a telephone exchange in the next few days,” government spokesman Gabriel Attal said on Sunday. “We want explanations” on what “is akin to a major breach of confidence”, and also know “how they intend to leave this contract”, with “compensation” to the key, he said on BFMTV.
Gabriel Attal (@GabrielAttal): “There will be a telephone exchange in the next few days between Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden” pic.twitter.com/aFcOCvh9Ns
– BFMTV (@BFMTV) September 19, 2021
French ambassadors in Australia recalled
Australia’s decision to cancel the contract to purchase French submarines in favor of US nuclear-powered ships has sparked outrage in Paris. Emmanuel Macron recalled the ambassadors of France in Canberra and Washington in an unprecedented gesture. He will meet with them on Sunday evening, added Gabriel Attal.
Earlier today, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison rejected French accusations of duplicity. “I think they would have had every reason to know that we had deep and serious reservations that the capabilities of the Attack-class submarine did not meet our strategic interests and we had made it clear that we would take a decision based on our national strategic interest, ”he told a press conference in Sydney.
“I don’t regret the decision to put Australia’s national interest first. I will never regret it, ”he added, saying it would have been“ negligent ”to move forward against advice from Australia’s defense and intelligence services.