As I’ve said previously, this is France throwing a temper tantrum because they didn’t get what they want.
They can’t deliver what Australia has decided we need to defend ourselves. This is Australia looking out for its best interests in our own national defence and the United States and the United Kingdom assisting us to do so. And France will just have to learn to live with that. Nobody else is obliged to prop up their defence industry if it isn’t selling what we want.
While Biden is the US President now, deals like this are not arranged overnight and I very much doubt he was the US President when Australia, the US, and the UK started negotiating this deal. The only credit I’ll give him is not backing out of the deal.
This is about Australia’s future naval security. I do understand why France is upset but all nations have to put their own security first.
You say that this was likely Trump’s deal, but I’m not sure I believe that. This has Biden written all over. Screw an ally, and make billions for some defense contractor that’s probably funneling money to Frank Biden, Hunter or some other bag man for “the Big Guy.”
I have mixed feeling on this. On the one hand, I think it serves the French right, as they despised Trump and were ecstatic to be rid of him. They *deserve* to get their comeuppance for not appreciating how good Trump was for them. On the other hand, stepping back and looking at the big picture... the U.S. and France have been friends since the 1770s, and they do have a legitimate need for submarine given their possessions in the Pacific, so why screw a friend?
“The only credit I’ll give him [Biden] is not backing out of the deal”
That could still happen.
Add to your piece....there was originally an understanding that the bulk of the work (90-percent) would be done in Australia, with Australians. Around 18 months ago, the French said there was a new understanding (probably around 60 percent of the work in Australia). That probably was the last straw, and the French government just weren’t wise enough to grasp that angle to the contract.
100 percent agree! Well said, naturalman1975!
Let us also not forget it was the French who refused the overflight of aircraft during Eldorado Canyon (Libya attack), making us fly the long way from the UK. They also seem to want to get involved in NATO ops only when they can have an advantage. The only thing France gave us that was worth anything was: 1. Assistance during the revolutionary war, 2. Statue of Liberty, and 3. The croissant (a delicious breakfast treat). They, and their socialist regime can all go pound sand.