AUKUS deal on submarines sparks ‘treason’ backlash from France as new twist emerges

Anthony Albanese’s upcoming historic deal to arm Australia with nuclear subs continues to upset France and agitate China. But there’s also been a last-minute twist.

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Anthony Albanese will land in the US on Sunday to seal a historic deal to arm Australia with nuclear submarines, undeterred by China’s campaign to block the move and France’s ongoing anger at being cut out.

It has also been revealed that Joe Biden’s AUKUS point man is set to leave the US President’s administration, a last-minute twist amid doubts about how the White House will ease export controls that would otherwise prevent defence technology being shared with Australia.

The Prime Minister, fresh off a three-day trip to India, is making his first visit to the US since coming to office to unveil the outcome of an 18-month trilateral effort to determine Australia’s “optimal pathway” to acquiring a nuclear-powered fleet.

He will make the announcement alongside Mr Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at a San Diego naval base on Tuesday.

Leaked details suggest the leaders have agreed to a three-phase plan, with US nuclear submarines visiting Australia more regularly, Australia purchasing up to five American-made boats, and a fleet of British-designed submarines being built in South Australia.

“We want a peaceful, secure world, but part of that is investing in our national defence and also investing in our relationships,” Mr Albanese said.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be in the US for the AUKUS deal. Picture: AFP

He said Adelaide would be a major beneficiary as the domestic submarine production line, with big investments also planned in Western Australia to act as a port for US boats.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison drove the switch to nuclear submarines and scrapped a $90bn deal for French conventional boats, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to accuse him of lying.

US President Joe Biden will also be at the AUKUS announcement. Picture: AFP

On Saturday, a French official said they still believed AUKUS was “a mistake”.

“Regarding Australia, it was treason,” the unnamed official told Agence France-Presse.

Asked whether he had spoken to Mr Macron about the announcement, Mr Albanese said: “We will treat our partners and our friends with the respect they deserve.”

China also renewed its push at the international nuclear watchdog to challenge Australia’s plan, arguing it violated nuclear non-proliferation rules.

United States Studies Centre research fellow Blake Herzinger said this was “the height of hypocrisy” given China’s military might.

“Somehow submarines that don’t even exist yet have caused more regional consternation than a scores-strong fleet that is not only nuclear-propelled but armed with nuclear weapons,” he said.

Charles Edel, the Australia Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said a key element of the announcement would be Mr Biden’s plan to ease a maze of defence export controls. He said continued pressure was required “at the most senior political levels”.

But US outlet Foreign Policy reported Mr Biden’s AUKUS co-ordinator James Miller would depart the administration after Tuesday’s announcement, which it said would leave the White House “without an export control or nuclear wonk in a top seat overseeing the AUKUS deal”.

Originally published as AUKUS deal on submarines sparks ‘treason’ backlash from France as new twist emerges