Submarine crisis: the former Australian Prime Minister criticizes the about-face of his country

"Australia may have important strategic or technical reasons to change their mind, and decide that it now needs another type of submarines.But none of these reasons can justify the way in which it deals with France today.In a platform published by Le Monde this Tuesday, September 21, the former Australian Minister Kevin Rudd, in place from 2007 to 2010 then from June to September 2013, violently reprimands the "flip-flop" of the current executive ofhis country, already under the fire of criticism of the European Union.

To read aussicrise of submarines: Scott Morrison, the worst of allies for France

The United States, Australia and the United Kingdom announced on Wednesday September 15 a vast security partnership in the Indopacific area, including the delivery of nuclear propulsion submarines to Canberra.Immediate consequence of this spectacular announcement: the rupture by Australia of a gigantic contract of 90 billion Australian dollars (56 billion euros) passed to France in 2016, for the delivery of 12 submarines with diesel diesel.

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This decision "aggravates strategic tensions in Southeast Asia"»

"I believe that the decision of the Government of Scott Morrison is deeply questionable (...) It violates the spirit and the letter of the strategic partnership adopted (in 2012, editor's note) by France and Australia, judges the former Prime Minister in this river tribune.It does not respond (also) to this contractual obligation: consult (the French industrialist) naval group "in the event of radical change in" terms of the call for tenders ".Canberra no longer wishes to order twelve conventional propulsion submarines, but eight nuclear propulsion submarines."You have to start by notifying your partner," says Kevin Rudd.A breach of this rule would be equivalent to deception.However, it seems that the Morrison government has indeed failed to inform it beforehand "naval group, he accuses.

To read aussicrise of submarines: "The end of the" contract of the century "reveals the risk of a strategic downgrading of France"

"Such a breach is not acceptable between adversaries, it is even less so between allies," said the former head of government, before held his successor: "(Scott) Morrison decided to limit offers to the sphereEnglish-speaker.Which makes no sense if the goal is to best use the money from Australian taxpayers.Which is not just right towards our French strategic partners.»»

Pour Kevin Rudd, une telle «volte-face»» «affecte les efforts de l'Europe afin de forger une stratégie commune pour faire face à l'essor (...) de la Chine»», et «aggrave encore un peu plus les tensions stratégiques en Asie du Sud-Est»». L'ex-premier ministre dénonce une «affaire d'État d'une importance majeure»», qui ne «représente aucunement les sentiments (des) Australiens à l'égard de la France»».And to assert: "Jean-Yves Le Drian is right to qualify the gesture of Morrison as" blow in the back ""».