Paris: America’s oldest ally, France, recalled its ambassador to the United States on Friday in an unprecedented fury that dwarfed decades of previous differences.
The relations envisaged in the revolutions of the eighteenth century appeared at a critical point after America, Australia And Britain overtook France in creating a new Indo-Pacific security system.
According to the French Foreign Ministry, this is the first time that France has recalled its ambassador to the US. Paris also recalled its envoy to Australia.
Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le drian A written statement said France’s decision, at the request of President Emmanuel Macron, is “justified by the extraordinary seriousness of the declarations” made by Australia and the United States.
He said Australia’s decision to scrap a major French conventional submarine purchase in favor of a nuclear sub built with American technology is “an unacceptable behavior between allies and partners.”
messanger Philippe Etienne The tweeted announcements are “directly affecting our alliances, our partnership and our vision of the importance of the Indo-Pacific to Europe.”
National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said the Biden administration is in close contact with French officials about the decision to recall Etienne to Paris.
“We understand their position and will continue to work to resolve our differences in the days to come, as we have done at other points during our long alliance,” he said in a statement. “France is our oldest ally and one of our strongest partners, and we share a long history of shared democratic values and a commitment to working together to address global challenges.”
State Department Spokesperson Ned Price He also stressed that the US values its relationship with France and expressed hope that talks between the two sides will continue in the coming days, including at the UN General Assembly next week.
However, for the first time since taking office in 2017, Macron will not deliver a speech at the annual meeting of world leaders. Le Drian will give the French address instead.
The Australian government said it regretted France’s decision to recall its ambassador to that country.
“Australia understands France’s deep disappointment with our decision, which was taken in accordance with our clear and communicated national security interests,” Foreign Minister Maris Payne’s office said in a statement. It added that Australia values its relationship with France and looks forward to a future engagement together.
The decision to recall the ambassador represents a shocking change for France under the leadership of Macron, who warmly shook hands with Biden at the G-7 summit in June and confirmed that “America is back.”
Macron has yet to comment on the issue. His four-year presidency is remembered by his boldest foreign policy so far in which he has sought to strengthen France’s diplomatic footprint and role in European policy-making, and rally France’s neighbors around his vision for Europe. Relying less on the US military to do so. Umbrella.
France has pushed for a European strategy for many years to boost economic, political and defense ties in a region spanning from India and China to Japan and New Zealand. The European Union revealed its plan for the Indo-Pacific this week.
Earlier on Friday, a top French diplomat, who spoke anonymously in line with customary government practice, said Macron received a letter from Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday morning announcing the decision to scrap the submarine deal Went.
French officials then decided to contact the US administration “to ask what was going on,” he said. He said discussions with Washington took place just two to three hours before Biden’s public announcement.
Le Drian on Thursday expressed “full understanding” of the move and criticized both Australia and the US
“It was really a stab in the back. We built a relationship of trust with Australia and that trust was betrayed.” “It’s not done between allies.”
He compared Biden’s move with those of Trump under his “America First” doctrine.
The French diplomat said Paris had raised the issue of Indo-Pacific strategy during US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Paris on June 25, in which he expressed the importance of its submarine program with Australia.
“We said this is a very important and important component for us in our Indo-Pacific strategy,” he said. Blinken met Macron during the trip.
The French diplomat said Australia never mentioned its desire to move France to nuclear-powered submarines, including a meeting between Macron and Morrison in Paris on June 15.
The recall of ambassadors between friendly countries is extremely unusual.
In 2019, Paris withdrew its envoy to neighboring Italy after the country’s leaders made critical public comments about the French government. Last year, France withdrew its ambassador to Turkey after the Turkish president Risp Tayip Erdogan Said Macron needed mental health treatment.
The relations envisaged in the revolutions of the eighteenth century appeared at a critical point after America, Australia And Britain overtook France in creating a new Indo-Pacific security system.
According to the French Foreign Ministry, this is the first time that France has recalled its ambassador to the US. Paris also recalled its envoy to Australia.
Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le drian A written statement said France’s decision, at the request of President Emmanuel Macron, is “justified by the extraordinary seriousness of the declarations” made by Australia and the United States.
He said Australia’s decision to scrap a major French conventional submarine purchase in favor of a nuclear sub built with American technology is “an unacceptable behavior between allies and partners.”
messanger Philippe Etienne The tweeted announcements are “directly affecting our alliances, our partnership and our vision of the importance of the Indo-Pacific to Europe.”
National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said the Biden administration is in close contact with French officials about the decision to recall Etienne to Paris.
“We understand their position and will continue to work to resolve our differences in the days to come, as we have done at other points during our long alliance,” he said in a statement. “France is our oldest ally and one of our strongest partners, and we share a long history of shared democratic values and a commitment to working together to address global challenges.”
State Department Spokesperson Ned Price He also stressed that the US values its relationship with France and expressed hope that talks between the two sides will continue in the coming days, including at the UN General Assembly next week.
However, for the first time since taking office in 2017, Macron will not deliver a speech at the annual meeting of world leaders. Le Drian will give the French address instead.
The Australian government said it regretted France’s decision to recall its ambassador to that country.
“Australia understands France’s deep disappointment with our decision, which was taken in accordance with our clear and communicated national security interests,” Foreign Minister Maris Payne’s office said in a statement. It added that Australia values its relationship with France and looks forward to a future engagement together.
The decision to recall the ambassador represents a shocking change for France under the leadership of Macron, who warmly shook hands with Biden at the G-7 summit in June and confirmed that “America is back.”
Macron has yet to comment on the issue. His four-year presidency is remembered by his boldest foreign policy so far in which he has sought to strengthen France’s diplomatic footprint and role in European policy-making, and rally France’s neighbors around his vision for Europe. Relying less on the US military to do so. Umbrella.
France has pushed for a European strategy for many years to boost economic, political and defense ties in a region spanning from India and China to Japan and New Zealand. The European Union revealed its plan for the Indo-Pacific this week.
Earlier on Friday, a top French diplomat, who spoke anonymously in line with customary government practice, said Macron received a letter from Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday morning announcing the decision to scrap the submarine deal Went.
French officials then decided to contact the US administration “to ask what was going on,” he said. He said discussions with Washington took place just two to three hours before Biden’s public announcement.
Le Drian on Thursday expressed “full understanding” of the move and criticized both Australia and the US
“It was really a stab in the back. We built a relationship of trust with Australia and that trust was betrayed.” “It’s not done between allies.”
He compared Biden’s move with those of Trump under his “America First” doctrine.
The French diplomat said Paris had raised the issue of Indo-Pacific strategy during US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Paris on June 25, in which he expressed the importance of its submarine program with Australia.
“We said this is a very important and important component for us in our Indo-Pacific strategy,” he said. Blinken met Macron during the trip.
The French diplomat said Australia never mentioned its desire to move France to nuclear-powered submarines, including a meeting between Macron and Morrison in Paris on June 15.
The recall of ambassadors between friendly countries is extremely unusual.
In 2019, Paris withdrew its envoy to neighboring Italy after the country’s leaders made critical public comments about the French government. Last year, France withdrew its ambassador to Turkey after the Turkish president Risp Tayip Erdogan Said Macron needed mental health treatment.
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