Macron accuses Australian president of lying about submarine contract

President French, Emmanuel Macron, accused Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison of lying about the cancellation of a million-dollar contract for the construction of 12 Gallic submarines in mid-September, raising tensions between Paris and Canberra.

“I don’t think so, I know,” Macron said when asked whether he considered that Morrison lied to him about the controversial cancellation of that contract, in statements to Australian journalists on Sunday in the corridors of the G20 summit in Rome. .

Australia canceled a contract valued at some 67,617 million dollars (58,473 million euros) to favor the development of US nuclear submarines within the framework of the defense agreement with the United States and the United Kingdom that seeks to stand up to China against the increased military activities in the Indo-Pacific region.

France, which called the announcement a betrayal of trust, called for consultations with its ambassadors in Washington and Canberra, who returned weeks later to their diplomatic posts.

Macron reiterated on Sunday that the AUKUS (Australian, UK and US initials) deal was not only a setback for France but also for “The credibility of Australia” and “the trust” of the partners of the oceanic country, as published by the Australian public network ABC.

Shortly after these statements, Morrison assured that “it is not true” that he lied to Macron, and reiterated that he had explained to him at a dinner last June in Paris that the conventionally-powered submarines that had been commissioned from the French did not comply with the current strategic needs of the country.

Morrison, who met Macron in Rome during the G20 summit, explained that Australia is already in the process of amending relations, which involves meeting payments for the cancellation of the contract.

“We have started it, we have spoken several times in the last days. I am sure that we will speak a little more before I return to Australia ”, declared the president of the oceanic nation.

While Morrison insists that the cancellation of the contract responds to the “Australian national interest”, US President Joe Biden admitted “Clumsiness” Washington’s disagreement with Paris after meeting Macron in Rome on Friday.

“We want to strengthen the strategic partnership between the EU and NATO”, Macron said at the time, who also showed his desire to cooperate in the security of the Indo-Pacific, where France has several overseas territories, while highlighting that Paris and Washington are “in a process of regaining confidence, which translates into enhanced cooperation ”.

________________________________