Controversy over submarine trade escalates: France views relationship with Australia “unprecedented” – Politics

The submarine dispute between France and Australia continues to escalate. The French ambassador to Canberra, Jean-Pierre DePault, spoke on Wednesday about the “unprecedented new downfall” in relations between the two states, especially when it comes to truth and hope.

Lying to French President Emmanuel Macron, the ambassador told the National Press Council that he had been “deliberately deceived”. “The way he handled the whole thing stabbed me in the back.”

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In mid-September, Australia, the United States and Great Britain announced a new joint defense alliance in the Indo-Pacific region without consulting their allies. In this regard, it intends to provide Australia with US technology for the construction and operation of nuclear submarines. The result was the eruption of a multi-billion dollar submarine deal between France and Australia. Paris responded angrily, and France’s bilateral relations with the Allies fell into crisis. Debald was initially recalled to Paris, but is now back in Australia.

Macron had publicly accused Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison of lying a few days ago. When asked if he thought Morrison had lied to him, the French leader said: “I do not think so. I know that.” Morrison denied the allegations.

On Tuesday, when the Australian media released a leaked SMS, Macron wrote to Morrison about the matter. “You don’t behave like that when it comes to personal exchanges between two top politicians,” Debald explained. (dpa)