French officials slam New Australia-US deal, declaring France has been ‘stabbed in the back’

One of Australia’s most important European allies is furious with a new defence deal, declaring they have been stabbed in the back.

France has savaged Australia over a submarine deal with Britain and the United States, claiming their country has been stabbed in the back.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed the landmark agreement on Thursday.

Australia’s submarine program will “go nuclear” under a defence pact with Joe Biden and Boris Johnson.

But the deal also torpedoes a years-long agreement between Australia and France.

French officials were outraged by the announcement.

“France takes note of the decision just announced by the Australian government to stop the future submarine program and launch co-operation with the United States,” French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said.

“It is a decision contrary to the letter and the spirit of co-operation which prevailed between France and Australia.”

French President Emmanuel Macron will be furious over Australia’s new submarine deal. Picture: Adam Taylor/PMO.

The Prime Minister immediately tried to soften the blow after blindsiding the European ally.

“I want to stress that France remains an incredibly important partner in the Pacific,” Mr Morrison said.

“I look forward and I hope to see us continue once we move past what is obviously a very difficult and disappointing decision for France.

“I understand that. I respect it. But as a Prime Minister I must make decisions that are in Australia’s national security. I know that France would do the same.”

Australia’s deal with French shipbuilder Naval Group on a new fleet of submarines has been mired by cost blowouts and delays.

The French-made submarines were not expected to be delivered until about 2035.

Defence strategists have expressed concerns the construction timeline was far too slow, especially considering rising tensions with China.

The French deal has officially been scrapped and replaced by the US and UK nuclear pact.

French diplomat Gerard Araud lashed out at the arrangement.

Mr Araud said the deal had nothing to do with nuclear capabilities, but instead Australia trying to secure a “juicy contract”.

“The world is a jungle,” he declared.

“France has just been reminded this bitter truth by the way the US and the UK have stabbed her in the back in Australia.”

“(This) has nothing to do with capabilities … France was able to sell nuclear-powered submarines.”

Mr Araud said Australia, the US, and the UK made the deal at the expense of his nation.

The world is a jungle. France has just been reminded this bitter truth by the way the US and the UK have stabbed her in the back in Australia. C’est la vie.

— Gérard Araud (@GerardAraud) September 15, 2021

France’s Foreign Minister slammed the US president for excluding his nation from the deal as tensions grow in the Indo-Pacific.

“The American choice which leads to the removal of an ally and a European partner such as France from a structuring partnership with Australia when we are facing unprecedented challenges in the Indo-Pacific region … marks an absence of coherence that France can only observe and regret,” Mr Le Drian wrote.

“The regrettable decision which has been announced on the FSP (future submarine program) only reinforces the need to raise the issue of European strategic autonomy loud and clear.

“There is no other way to defend our interests and our values in the world – including in the Indo-Pacific.”

It has nothing to do with capabilities : France was able to sell nuc powered submarines. And everything with getting a juicy contract at the expense of an ally. https://t.co/BBQULacXvS

— Gérard Araud (@GerardAraud) September 15, 2021

Originally published as French officials slam New Australia-US deal, declaring France has been ‘stabbed in the back’