Australia: Submarine concerns known
CANBERRA, Australia – France would have known Australia had “deep and grave concerns” that a submarine fleet the French were building would not meet Australian needs, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Sunday after the contract’s cancellation set off a diplomatic crisis.
France accused Australia of concealing its intentions to back out of the $66 billion contract for Naval Group, owned primarily by the French state, to build 12 conventional diesel-electric submarines.
President Joe Biden revealed last week a new alliance including Australia and Britain that would deliver an Australian fleet of at least eight nuclear-powered submarines.
Morrison blamed the switch on a deteriorating strategic environment in the Indo-Pacific. He has not specifically referred to China’s massive military buildup, which has gained pace in recent years.
“The capability that the Attack class submarines were going to provide was not what Australia needed to protect our sovereign interests,” Morrison said.
France responded to the cancellation, which Morrison has said will cost his government at least $1.7 billion, by recalling its ambassadors from Australia and the United States.
On Sunday, the French government spokesman said President Emmanuel Macron will speak in the coming days with Biden in what will be their first contact since the crisis erupted.