“STAB IN THE BACK”: France recalls its ambassadors from the US and Australia over AUKUS deal

France has immediately recalled its ambassadors to the United States (US) and Australia in response to the recent security alliance formed by the US, Australia, and the United Kingdom (UK).

The new security alliance between the three Anglosphere countries is known as AUKUS, and it aims to counter China.

A crucial part of the security alliance is that the US and the UK would help Australia obtain nuclear-powered submarines using US technology.

However, the submarine deal with AUKUS has seen the scrapping of the existing submarine contract of Australia with France.

It is pertinent to note that France and Australia had signed a deal worth a whopping $90 billion in 2016 with the French company Naval Group for a fleet of 12 state-of-the-art attack class submarines.

However, the security alliance with AUKUS has meant that Australia’s submarine deal with France has been discarded.

The French are now furious over the cancellation of their submarine contract with Australia due to the AUKUS security alliance pact.

Due to this, the French Foreign Minister (FM), Jean-Yves Le Drian, has “immediately” recalled France’s ambassadors to the US and Australia at the request of the French President, Emmanuel Macron.

The FM France has described the latest developments as a “stab in the back.”

Australia “regrets” France’s decision to recall ambassador

Australia has said it “notes with regret” France’s decision to recall its ambassador over the scrapping of a submarine contract.

This was revealed by a spokesperon for the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Marise Payne.

The spokesperson remarked that Australia “understands France’s deep disappointment” and explained that the recent developments are per Australia’s national security interests in the current times.

The spokesperson emphasized the “importance” of the relationship between Australia and France, adding that the Oceanian country is “looking forward to engaging” with the European country again.

The US also “regrets” the decision

A White House official informed Reuters that the US “regretted” France’s decision to recall the ambassador, adding that the US has been in touch with the European country.

The US official said that the two countries would engage in the coming days to resolve their differences.

The UK not spared

Despite not recalling its ambassador from the UK, France has said that the UK acted “opportunistically” by becoming a part of the AUKUS alliance.

The FM France has remarked that the UK is “hiding in the American bosom.”

France didn’t pull its ambassador to London despite the UK’s role in the sub deal, but they're not off the hook: “[Britain] is hiding in the American bosom,” said France’s minister for European affairs. “This is a return to the American fold and a form of accepted vassalization.”

— John Hudson (@John_Hudson) September 17, 2021

It is pertinent to note that experts have predicted that it could take years for the relationship between France and the UK, the US, and Australia to get fixed.

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