The effort to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines -- a major step toward countering China as President Joe Biden works to build international backing for his approach to Beijing -- is part of a new trilateral partnership among the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, dubbed"AUKUS."
The canceled deal with France, a major global weapons exporter, is expected to make a significant economic impact on the French defense sector. France also stands to lose out strategically in the Indo-Pacific, where the country holds significant interests. Le Drian also released a joint statement with French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly on Wednesday, saying,"The American choice to exclude a European ally and partner such as France from a structuring partnership with Australia, at a time when we are facing unprecedented challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, whether in terms of our values or in terms of respect for multilateralism based on the rule of law, shows a lack of coherence that France can only note and regret.
The AUKUS announcement also came one day before the European Union was set to present its highly anticipated strategy for the Indo-Pacific. "This was relayed directly to the president, relayed directly to the minister for Foreign Affairs and the minister for Defence," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday.
Dutton argued that"the French have a version which was not superior to that operated by the United States, the United Kingdom. And in the end, the decision that we have made is based on what is in the best interest of our national security."
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