Submarine deal: France says Australia has 'stabbed us in the back'
Tổng thống Pháp Emmanuel Macron tuyên bố Thủ tướng Australia Scott Morrison đã nói dối ông về việc hủy thỏa thuận mua tàu ngầm hồi tháng 9, nguyên nhân dẫn đến căng thẳng giữa hai nước đồng minh.
Ông Macron và ông Morrison cùng đến Rome, Italia dự Hội nghị Thượng đỉnh G20 cuối tuần trước. Đây là lần đầu tiên hai nhà lãnh đạo gặp gỡ kể từ khi chính quyền Morrison hủy hợp đồng mua tàu ngầm Pháp trị giá hàng tỷ đô la, tiếp sau thông báo thành lập một liên minh an ninh 3 bên mới giữa Australia với Mỹ và Anh (AUKUS) hồi tháng 9.
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| French President Emmanuel Macron speaks at the G20 Summit in Rome, Italy on October 31. Photo: Reuters |
The AUKUS alliance allows Australia access to nuclear submarines using US and UK technology, but angers Paris. French Foreign Minister Le Drian called it a "stab in the back". Paris recalled its ambassadors to Washington and Canberra, citing "unacceptable behaviour" by the US, UK and Australia.
Reuters quoted the French President as saying to 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 the people of your country. I just want to say that when we respect, you have to be honest and behave appropriately and consistently with this."
Asked if 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 mending 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.
