https://on.ft.com/3u7Mb6uFrance’s anger at the submarine deal comes in several parts. Most obviously, the loss of an A$50bn contract is a severe blow to its defence industry and a still bigger one to Gallic pride. By virtue of its island territories, France is the European nation most present militarily in the Indo-Pacific. It had been building its own security partnership with Australia. The Aukus accord reduces this to dust.
What really rankles though is Biden’s almost casual breach of trust. Washington’s negotiations with Canberra went on for months. They were kept secret even as the US administration encouraged France and the EU to develop their own efforts to counter China’s more belligerent posture in the region. That counts as straightforward mendacity.
Britain has now positioned itself as Washington’s pliant partner. The rest of Europe is left with a dilemma. It can try to play the equidistance game as between China and the US. Or it can acknowledge that when the choice is between US arrogance and Chinese hegemony, there is only one side to be on. Pace Macron, it is not enough to be right.
For the record, I don't think the US has behaved well, but I find it very difficult to muster any sympathy for France.
