EU backs France in submarine dispute
European Union foreign ministers expressed support and solidarity with France on Monday during a meeting in New York to discuss Australia's scrapping of a $40 billion submarine order with Paris in favor of a U.S. and British deal.
The security pact_ known as AUKUS_ includes the sale of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia_ and has strained relations between western countries ahead of the start of this week s annual gathering of world leaders for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Speaking after the closed-door meeting on the sidelines of the assembly_ EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said more cooperation_ more coordination_ less fragmentation was needed to achieve a stable and peaceful Indo-Pacific region where China is the major rising power.
The bloc s foreign ministers expressed clear solidarity with France_ Borrell said.
This announcement ran counter to calls for greater cooperation with the European Union in the Indo-Pacific_ he said.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian earlier on Monday accused the US of betrayal and Australia of back-stabbing.
Le Drian called on Europeans to think hard about alliances_ and accused US President Joe Biden s administration of continuing the unilateralism_ unpredictability_ brutality and not respecting your partner of his predecessor Donald Trump.
The US has sought to soothe anger in France_ a NATO ally_ and Biden is due to speak to French President Emmanuel Macron on the phone in the next few days.
We are allies_ we talk and don t hide elaborate different strategies. That s why there is a crisis in confidence_ Le Drian said. So all that needs clarifications and explanations. It may take time.
Australia signed the deal to buy French diesel-powered submarines in 2016. The agreement was cancelled when the AUKUS pact gave Australia access to US technology on nuclear-powered vessels.
France has pushed for several years for a European strategy for boosting economic_ political and defence ties in the Indo-Pacific_ which stretches from India and China to Japan and New Zealand. The EU also announced its plan for the Indo-Pacific last week.
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