The introduction of an AUKUS deal between the UK, the US, and Australia have brought on a diplomatic strain on the relations of the three countries with France, especially Australia. In the recent G20 Summit, French President Emmanuel Macron says that Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison lied about the submarine deal.
Speaking with the Australian press at the international conference in Rome, Macron was pressed whether he thinks Morrison lied to him regarding the submarine deal between both countries. The disputes started back in September with the introduction of a security alliance between the UK, US, and Australia known as AUKUS. The alliance was meant to counter the growing threat of China in the South Pacific region.
“I don’t think, I know,” said Macron.
“I think you can have disagreements. I do respect sovereign choices, but you have to respect allies and partners, and it was not ok with this deal,” added the French leader.
The alliance would provide Australia with access to technology for building and operating nuclear-powered submarines. However, the pact also clashed with Australia’s $66 billion submarine contract with France that ended up getting scrapped.
Morrison denied lying to his French counterpart, saying that it was in Australia’s national interest to scrap the deal and sign on to the pact with the US and the UK. According to Australia’s ABC news outlet, Morrison expressed Canberra’s change of decision to Macron before the AUKUS pact was established. Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce also said that Macron should “move on.”
Biden sought to take damage control in the diplomatic crisis between the US and France due to the deal, discussing the issue with Macron when the two leaders met at the G20 summit.
The US leader acknowledged there was a miscommunication on Washington’s part, saying that he had the impression that France was already aware of the alliance between the three countries. Both leaders agreed to address another long-running point of contention in the form of arms export rules, according to a joint statement following the meeting.
Biden also backed Macron’s call for more defense autonomy in the European Union, with both governments pledging to identify measures that could improve the “efficiency and effectiveness of defense export authorizations.”