The French ambassador exploded Scott Morrison To cancel the deal to buy 12 French submarines in an extraordinary speech set forth his country’s view of the diplomatic crisis.
Jean-Pierre Thébault accused the Australian government of ‘stabbing it in the back’ and said Mr Morrison intended to deceive France before announcing a nuclear submarine partnership with the US and UK in September.
‘Stab in the back. On 15 September, this Australian government abruptly announced the cancellation of the future submarine programme. The decision was deliberately kept secret for months, even years,’ Mr Thebault told the National Press Club in Canberra.
Jean-Pierre Thébault (pictured today) accused the Australian government of ‘stabbing in the back’ and said Mr Morrison intended to betray his country’s longtime ally
Mr Thebault said Australia never consulted France about the possibility of a nuclear-powered sub and instead turned its back on its ally to announce a new AUKUS partnership.
‘The way this Australian government decided to turn its back on our serious and far-reaching partnership without ever open consultation France‘When there were countless opportunities, without sharing frankly and openly, or without looking for alternatives with France, is out of this world,’ he said.
In a highly unusual move after the deal was scrapped, the ambassador recalled to Paris explained why he thought Mr Morrison had not told President Emmanuel Macron in advance.
“Probably the reason the Australian government didn’t want to be clear was clearly explained by the prime minister on 16 September,” he said.
‘ I quote, ‘There was never any certainty for a long time and the painstaking AUKUS process would result in where we are now. And in fact, if we were unable to use this technology, the attack class submarine is the best submarine we have been able to use.
French Ambassador to Australia Jean-Pierre Thébault arrives at Sydney airport before leaving the country on 18 September
Mr Thebault explained: ‘Faced with the high uncertainties that have not ended around the possible conclusion of an alternative deal, the prospect of continuing the future submarine program was necessary. It was imperative to put us on the backburner. The deceit was intentional.’
The ambassador explained that France was furious because ‘the assault class program was always much more than a contract.’
He described the deal, which involved sharing of “one of the most classified and sensitive defense programmes”, as an “unprecedented act of faith”.
‘It was bringing our relationship with Australia to a level it had never reached before. politically and technically. Fully complements Australia and France’s historic alliance with the US,’ he said.
I respect sovereign choices. But you have to respect allies and partners. And do I think what has happened is injurious to the reputation of your country.’
Mr Morrison announced his decision to cancel the French submarine contract on 15 September at a joint press conference with Boris Johnson and Joe Biden.
Mr Morrison wants US or UK-style nuclear-powered submarines, which are faster, stealthy and longer at sea than conventional submarines, by 2040.
France was blindsided by the move and said it had been ‘stabbed in the back’.
After Mr Macron accused Mr Morrison of lying to him on Monday, the prime minister hit back, saying he would not counter ‘sledging’.
The French president claimed he was not informed of Australia’s plans to sever the defense contract until the AUKUS security agreement was revealed to the world.
But in a message leaked by Mr Morrison’s office is believed to show President Macron, the French leader wrote: ‘Should I expect good or bad news for my combined submarine ambitions?’
A strange handshake in Rome between Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (right) and French President Emmanuel Macron (left) at this week’s G20 summit
A secret leaked text message (pictured) shows Emmanuel Macron was warned Australia would torpedo a $90 billion submarine deal with France.
While Mr Morrison acknowledged that Mr Macron was not aware of talks with the US and the UK, due to their confidential nature, he says the French leader was told in early June that Australia was looking for submarines as other countries. Was consulting on options.
He denied lying to Mr Macron but Mr Thebault said the president had been ‘misled’ and it was tantamount to lying between allies.
‘Was the President lied to? Yes, it was,’ he said.
‘Perhaps there is a difference between misleading and lying. But, you know, between heads of states and governments, when you mislead a friend and ally, you lie to him.’
Mr Morrison claims France should have realized the deal was on the rocks – but Mr Thebault said it was ‘hypothetical’ and used a blatant example to show that France had been deceived.
‘It’s a fantasy. A hard fact is that still on the third of August, there were talks between the French and Australian Foreign Affairs and Defense Ministers, and they agreed on a joint communiqué.
‘It was available to the public and was widely acclaimed for its ambition. It agreed on the following sentence, “The two countries underscore the importance of a future submarine program”.
‘Do you agree to such a release when anything so large as the official backbone of your cooperation is in doubt? Maybe on Mars, but not that I know on this planet.’
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