France had experienced as a betrayal the sudden cancellation of a contract of 56 billion euros for submarines. Australia had preferred to turn to the United States.
Franco-Australian Defense Cooperation “has taken up” since the camouflet of the huge aborted contract for French submarines in 2021, the French ambassador to Australia said on Sunday July 13.
Confidence had been broken in September 2021 when the former Australian government had suddenly canceled a contract of 56 billion euros for submarines of the French Naval Group group, preferring it to submarines with British or American nuclear propulsion.
Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom have combined in the area of security under their Aukus pact. The announcement had been experienced by France as a real stab of the Australian government.
Jean-Yves Le Drian, the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time, had spoken of a “betrayal”. Rare decision with friendly countries, Paris recalled its ambassadors to Washington and Camberra “for consultations”.
The weakened aukus
However, more and more questions have appeared in recent months. An American defense official revealed in June that this pact was being revised to ensure that he remains in accordance with the objectives of President Donald Trump.
In addition, American shipyards are struggling to fulfill the production objectives of the boats commanded by Canberra. The submarines promised by Washington could be delivered late, if they are delivered.
In 2024, in the Guardian, a former Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, said he fears that his country “has no underwater capacity for a large part of the next decade”.
Questioned on the possibility of a new contract for submarines with Australia if the Aukus agreement came to corporate, the French ambassador did not want to speculate.
“A problem for Australia”
“I would say that it is rather a problem for Australia for the moment. And of course, we are still dialoguing with our Australian friends,” replied Ambassador Pierre-André Imbert.
“But for the moment, they have chosen Aukus (…) if it changes (and) they ask, we will see,” said the French ambassador.
“Now, the first pillars of our cooperation are defense and security,” said Ambassador Pierre-André Imbert, describing a partnership “at a very good level” while the French forces joined the Australian army for magnitude maneuvers in the region.
The bilateral relationship in this area “has taken up” since the election in 2022 of the current Australian Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, according to Pierre-André Imbert.