Australian Prime Minister says “I don’t regret the decision to put Australia’s national interest first,”
CANBERRA, September,19 (Asia Free Press) : Diplomatic relations between Australia and France worsening after Canberra teared up submarine deal with Paris.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday rejected Paris accusations that Canberra lied and kept Paris in dark over cancellation of deal.
Responding to French actions and accusations, Morrison on said “I don’t regret the decision to put Australia’s national interest first,” according to ABC News.
On Saturday, France recalled its ambassadors from Australia and US as protest against Morrison cancelled its around $90 billion submarines deal with Paris and signed a new deal with Washington and London.
France Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian termed the move as stab in the back by Australia, US and UK.
“In a real alliance you talk to each other, you don’t hide things, you respect the other party and that is why this is a real crisis,” Mr Le Drian told television channel France 2.
“”There has been lying, duplicity, a major breach of trust and contempt,” Le Drian said and adding “This will not do.”
However, Morrison rejected France objection over his new deal and said he “put Australia’s interests first” by pulling out of the deal with France.
Morrison added that he had tried calling President Emmanuel Macron before announcement of new deal with US and UK, but it is unclear whether the pair spoke.
“They would’ve had every reason to know that we had deep and grave concerns that the capability of the Attack Class submarines was not going to meet our strategic interests,” he said.
“I don’t regret the decision to put Australia’s national interest first.”
Paris accused Canberra to kept them in the dark about cancellation the deal and moving for new one with US and UK.
