Publié le 08/10/2021
Marc JULIENNE, quoted by Ahmed Aboudouh in The Independent

France is eager to prevent the crisis from spiralling further as it recognises it is in its national interest, and President Macron’s favour, to end it. But damage has been done, writes Ahmed Aboudouh.

Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan has in recent days felt the cold wind in the relationship between his country and France. It’s something that could become the new normal for years to come.

Tehan was spurned this week in Europe, where talks over the EU-Australia free trade agreement were postponed, and a meeting with his French counterpart cancelled.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken was treated to a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

The EU’s cool response reflected France’s fury over snubbing a $ 90-bln deal with French company Naval Groupto build diesel-propelled submarines in favour of a new geostrategic partnership, known as AUKUS, with the US and the UK. The fierce squabble resulted in Paris recalling its ambassadors to Washington and Canberra.

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In 2018, France was the first in the EU to launch its Indo-Pacific strategy. It was strikingly ironic that Macron himself announced the new strategy on a warship at Sydney’s Garden Military base.

France never had the will nor the means to become the lead country to confront China. On the contrary, it is trying to prevent confrontation. 

Marc Julienne, the head of China research at the French Institute of International Relations

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“France never had the will nor the means to become the lead country to confront China. On the contrary, it is trying to prevent confrontation. France is an Indo-Pacific nation and has interests in the region, so it needs to cooperate with all stakeholders, including Australia and the US.”

Marc Julienne, the head of China research at the French Institute of International Relations

The Aukus accord meant that Australia may have sidelined the European ‘cooperative’ view favouring the more US-led confrontational posture.

> Read the full article on The independant  [1]