France accuses Australia, US of ‘lying’ over submarine deal

France has accused Australia and the US over a new security pact. In an interview with French Media, Foreign Minister of France, Jean-Yves Le Drian has accused the countries of “duplicity, a major breach of trust and contempt”.Earlier, a trilateral security agreement was announced by the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom on Thursday. The Australia-UK-US( AUKUS) agreement has left France enraged, which has called it a “stab in the back”. 

We have recalled our ambassadors to [Canberra and Washington] to re-evaluate the situation. With Britain there is no need. We know their constant opportunism. So there is no need to bring our ambassador back to explain,” he said. Of London’s role in the pact, he added: “Britain in this whole thing is a bit like the third wheel.” Le Drian said that NATO would have to take account of what has happened as it reconsiders strategy at a summit in Madrid next year. US State Department spokesperson Ned Price has said France is a “vital ally” and that the US will work in the coming days to resolve the differences.
France is upset because it has lost a mega submarine deal to the US, and because it feels humiliated at being kept in the dark about what the other three democracies were planning. The pact, will see Australia being given the technology to build nuclear-powered submarines. The move thwarted a multibillion-dollar deal France had signed with Australia.France was informed only hours before the public announcement was made earlier this week. The development has prompted Paris to recall its ambassadors.The agreement, which also includes the UK, is widely seen as an effort to counter China’s influence in the contested South China Sea.