Submarine deal: France says Australia has 'stabbed it in the back'
French President Emmanuel Macron claims Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison lied to him about cancelling a submarine deal in September, which has led to tensions between the two allies.
Mr Macron and Mr Morrison travelled to Rome, Italy, for the G20 Summit last weekend. This was the first time the two leaders had met since the Morrison government cancelled a multi-billion dollar deal to buy French submarines, following the announcement in September of a new trilateral security alliance between Australia, the US and the UK (AUKUS).
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| French President Emmanuel Macron speaks at the G20 Summit in Rome, Italy on October 31. Photo: Reuters |
The AUKUS alliance gives Australia access to nuclear submarines using US and UK technology, but has angered Paris. French Foreign Minister Le Drian called it a "stab in the back". Paris has recalled its ambassadors to Washington and Canberra, citing "unacceptable behaviour" by the US, UK and Australia.
Reuters quoted the French President as telling a group of Australian reporters covering the G20 Summit on October 31: "I have great respect for your country. I have great respect and friendship for your people. I just want to say that when we respect, you have to be honest and behave appropriately and consistently with this."
Asked whether he thought Mr Morrison had lied to him, Mr Macron replied: "I don't think so. I know (that)."
Speaking at a press conference in Rome the same day, Mr Morrison insisted that he was not lying and that he had explained to the head of the French government that conventional submarines no longer met Australia's needs. The Australian Prime Minister also announced that the process of repairing bilateral relations had begun.
Earlier, on October 29, US President Joe Biden said he thought France had been informed of the contract cancellation before AUKUS was launched. The White House leader also admitted that Washington had been “clumsy” in handling the matter.