By NEHLA SHAMEER
Australia has announced a €555 million ($585 million; £475 million) settlement with France’s Naval Group as restitution for cancelling a submarine contract with Paris. Instead, it chose to build nuclear-powered submarines using US and UK technology, known as the Aukus agreement.
The agreement puts an end to a bitter dispute that threatened to derail trade talks. Anthony Albanese, Australia’s new prime minister, called it a “fair and equitable settlement” He went on to say that he was going to France soon to “reset” a relationship that had “pretty obvious” tensions. According to French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, the agreement” allows us to turn a page in our bilateral relations with Australia and look forward.”
Aukus: The Fundamentals
What exactly is Aukus?
It is a security agreement between Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. It allows for greater intelligence sharing, but more importantly it provides Australia with secret technology to build nuclear powered submarines that are not armed with nuclear weapons.
*What exactly is the goal?
Aukus is widely regarded as a response to China’s growing power and an effort to counter it’s influence contested south china Sea.
*What infuriated France?
Australia cancelled a US$37 billion (A$52 billion; £27 billion; €35 billion) deal with a French company building diesel- powered submarines, and France – a traditional Western ally – learned about the new agreement only a few hours before it was made public.
The agreement between Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom will provide Canberra with the technology to build At least eight nuclear- powered submarines to counter China’s influence in the disputed South China Sea.
The agreement will also cover artificial Intelligence and other technologies making it it one of the countries’ largest defence collaborations in decades, according to Analysts As a result, Australia will be only the seventh country in the world to operate nuclear-powered submarine
However, Australia’s decision to cancel it’s submarine contract with France infuriated Paris, with President Emmanuel Macron accusing Australia’s former Prime Minister Scott Morrison of lying and recalling his ambassador from Australia in protest. Relations between the two countries were strained until last month, when centre-left leader, Mr Albanese was elected as the first Labour leader in more than an a decade
“We are reestablishing a better relationship between Australia and France,” Mr Albanese said after discussing the settlement with Mr Macron.
“I’m looking forward to accepting President Macron’s invitation to visit Paris as soon as possible. “Mr Albanese went on to say that the failed French submarine contract would have cost taxpayers A$3.4 billion (US$2.4 billion; €2.8 billion).
Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Albanese has said he wants “respectful” relations with all countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including China.
