Biden admits to Macron the US was ‘clumsy’ in Aukus submarine deal

American president moves to repair relationship after France was blindsided by security pact

The Guardian

Patrick Wintour in Rome Angelique Chrisafis in Paris and Julian Borger in Washington
Photo: The Guardian

 

The US president and his French counterpart met at France’s Vatican embassy in Rome on Friday, ahead of the G20 leaders’ summit this weekend, for their first in-person discussion since an astonished Macron was left feeling betrayed and humiliated by September’s security deal.

As a result of the “Aukus” pact between the US, Australia and the UK, Australia tore up a troubled $66bn (£48bn) contract signed with France to build six diesel-powered submarines in favour of a deal with the US for eight nuclear-powered submarines. It was the first time the US had offered to share its nuclear technology with a third party other than the UK.

Sitting next to Macron before a bilateral meeting, Biden also implied that he thought Australia had already informed France that it was cancelling its submarine contract.

Publish : 2021-10-30 13:27:00

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