French ambassador to the US says they 'absolutely weren't informed' of submarine deal
(CNN) — France's ambassador to the United States reiterated in an interview Monday that the breakdown of the French-Australian submarine deal last week came as a surprise to Paris.
Speaking on French radio station RTL, Ambassador Philippe Etienne said French Cabinet ministers were not given any indication the agreement would be canceled when they met with their Australian counterparts just days before Canberra announced an alternative deal with the US and United Kingdom.
"We absolutely weren't informed of the new course," Etienne said.
Paris reacted with fury after Australia abandoned its $90 billion Australian dollars ($65 billion) submarine deal with France in favor of a new military agreement with the US and the UK.
As part of the pact, known as AUKUS, Australia will be supplied with the technology to construct a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, considered to be superior to the conventionally powered vessels Canberra had previously agreed to buy from Paris. In response to the loss of its submarine contract, France recalled its ambassadors to the US and Australia on Friday, a dramatic show of dissatisfaction.
Etienne said his departure from Washington was "already a response" by the French government, and one that "marks the gravity of our reaction." He said senior members of the Macron administration were still discussing what to do next.
"As soon as we learned Wednesday morning (of the new deal), I demanded to be seen, I was seen," by the White House, Etienne said. "(But) it was a little late."
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison defended his decision to cancel the deal with Paris on Sunday, saying Australia had "deep and grave concerns" about the submarines which were being built by France.
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