AUKUS Military Pact:- France Withdraws Ambassadors to US & AU

[Br.IanVonTurpie]

France RECALLS its ambassador to the US amid row over new US-UK-Australia pact citing 'unacceptable behavior' over nixed submarine contract

Geoff Earle | Daily Mail (UK) | 18 September 2021

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10002777/France-RECALLS-ambassador-amid-row-new-UK-Australia-pact.html

In a stunning break with the United States' oldest ally, France has recalled its ambassadors to the US and Australia after a blowup over a new pact between the US, Great Britain, and Australia French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves LeDrain announced the move to recall ambassador Philippe Etienne Friday night, saying it came in a request from French President Francois Macron

He cited the 'exceptional seriousness of the announcements' – which caught France off guard and resulted in the cancelation of multi-billion dollar contracts for Australia to build and purchase French diesel submarines for its defense.

France also recalled its ambassador to Australia – but not to the UK, although a diplomat also dinged Britain for acting 'opportunistically

He called the nixing of the $90 billion sub contract 'unacceptable behavior.'

The move, reported by the Associated Press, comes amid a huge backlash in France over the move.

A French diplomatic source also lashed out at Britain, telling Reuters: 'The UK accompanied this operation opportunistically. We do not need to consult in Paris with our ambassador to know what to think and what conclusions to draw from it.'

A top French diplomat told the AP Macron got a letter from Australian PM Scott Morrison announcing the sub deal's cancellation on Wednesday morning. The French reached out to Washington 'to ask what was going on,' but the resulting discussions occurred just hours before Biden announced the deal in a video conference with the two key allies.

Le Drain on Thursday called the move a 'stab in the back.'

'We built a relationship of trust with Australia, and this trust was betrayed. This is not done between allies.'

The U.S. during regular diplomatic events with French diplomats points to France's essential support for the U.S. during the American Revolution, and numerous US presidents have taken part in annual commemorations of the Normandy invasion that attest to the close historical bonds between the two nations.

The stunning diplomatic slap comes a day after France made a lesser statement by nixing a planned gala at its luxurious embassy in Washington that was meant to celebrate the U.S.-French relationship, while also ditching another event in Baltimore

The embassy gala was to mark the 240th anniversary of the Battle of the Capes, when the French Navy fought the Royal Navy of Britain during the Revolutionary War

It all came at the end of a week where President Joe Biden announced a new agreement between the US, the UK, and Australia, in a move meant to counter China and bolster security in the Indo-Pacific region

Under the terms, Australia for the first time would purchase US-made nuclear submarines, which are quieter, faster [and cheaper], and must come to port less frequently than diesel or electric boats.

The move infuriated France, which said it had not been informed long in advance.

Biden, who ran in part trumpeting his deft touch in diplomacy after helming the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, now finds himself at the center a diplomatic row with a key ally.

It comes at a time when his handling of the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan is also under scrutiny.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said France had been informed in advance of the move, and tried to put the best light on the state of relations.

'France in particular is a vital partner on this, and so many other issues,' he said.

Because China has ramped up a security threat Australia required Submarines in a quicker window than the French can provide. Biden comes on the scene and says "We'll allow you to have our Neuclear subs in a faster period than what France offers" and now the UK is in the pact away from the EU France wanted assistance with.

They are hopping mad and rightly so!  They had a deal organised, we were all friends and now it's clear we aren't!

With the AUKUS pact Australia will be better off, but who generates the threats? China!
Biden sure is making himself unpopular now!

[Rev.Cambeul]

Aukus - It sounds like a just discovered Killer Whale.

We could Free Willy, but Biden would just talk about how the Black kids like his white hairs.

"If ... if you don't like my hairs, you aint Black.

"Fat BillAlbert, send in the Cosby Kids, Boy.

"Bring them into the Oval Office so they get to know ... kids like my ... you know the thing."

Because China has ramped up a security threat Australia required Submarines in a quicker window than the French can provide. Biden comes on the scene and says "We'll allow you to have our Neuclear subs in a faster period than what France offers" and now the UK is in the pact away from the EU France wanted assistance with.

They are hopping mad and rightly so!  They had a deal organised, we were all friends and now it's clear we aren't!

With the AUKUS pact Australia will be better off, but who generates the threats? China!
Biden sure is making himself unpopular now!

The French deal already resulted in shoddy submarines for Australia in a previous deal. The new French deal was meant to be a lot cheaper, but after the deal was signed, the French upped the cost by tens of billions of dollars - for basically 1940's era diesel U-Boats stuffed with modern computers. Sure, so the French learnt some things in the three years after the Germans surrendered in 45. Still, the American designs are modern, quiet and cheap.

The Frog Eaters are always pissed about something. They will get over it ... probably after they do us all a favour and blow up another Green Peace vessel in New Zealand (@Br.Ryan-NZ). After all, it's just a storm in a pot de chambre.

As for NZ ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY5RCIxB5FI

France recalls ambassadors to US and Australia after Aukus pact
First time France has recalled a US ambassador in alliance dating back to American revolution
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/17/france-recalls-ambassadors-to-us-and-australia-after-aukus-pact

It's that bloke Downunder
. . . .
With his brother and his senile granddad

Excerpt: France is seven months from a presidential election where Macron is expected to run for re-election and political opposition groups seized on the abrupt ending of the submarine contract to attack the government.

The far-right's Marine Le Pen called it "a political disaster" and "a public humiliation" for France, as well as a "very serious attack on its image as an industrial power".

https://twitter.com/GerardAraud/status/1438252971893141515

It's not C'est la vie, you boring little Gallic gunt. It's C'est la Guerre.

C'EST LA GUERRE!

... And nothing else matters.