Speaking to CNN, von der Leyen said that the three countries have “a lot of open questions that have to be answered,” days after the military initiative was unveiled. Criticism has mounted over the decision by the trio to agree a security pact under which Canberra will be provided with …
Read More »‘Breach of confidence:’ French FM denounces AUKUS deal, says Europeans need to rethink alliances and partnerships
“At issue here isn’t so much the breach of a weapons contract – even if this harms France – but the breach in confidence between allies,” Le Drian said Monday at a press conference in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session. “This calls for serious …
Read More »North Korea wades into AUKUS row, blasts US for ‘fueling nuclear arms race & backstabbing allies’
“This is a very controversial and dangerous move which undermines the strategic balance in the Asia-Pacific region and can trigger a nuclear arms race,” the North Korean foreign ministry said in response to KCNA state news agency’s question about the AUKUS deal. The ministry claimed that while the United States …
Read More »AUKUS submarine deal shows UK’s readiness to be ‘hard-headed’ in defending own interest, new foreign secretary insists
Truss, who was promoted to foreign secretary after a government reshuffle earlier this month, was trying to justify the need for Britain’s participation in the highly controversial AUKUS agreement in a dedicated article in the Sunday Telegraph. “Freedoms need to be defended, so we are also building strong security ties …
Read More »AUKUS fallout: France pledges to ‘defend truly multilateral international order’ with India amid diplomatic row with Australia-US
France and India will “work on a joint program of concrete actions to defend a truly multilateral international order,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, said in a statement on Saturday. Released by the French foreign ministry, it also said the two had discussed …
Read More »Malaysian PM says AUKUS will be ‘catalyst for nuclear arms race’ as ex-diplomat warns Australia is now ‘isolated’ in region
Ismail expressed concern about the effects on regional stability on Saturday, after he spoke to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison about the AUKUS treaty – Canberra’s new deal with the United States and United Kingdom to acquire nuclear-powered submarines apparently aimed at countering China. The AUKUS deal could become a …
Read More »Subway sandwiches ridicule France & AUKUS submarine controversy with ad boasting of ‘$90 billion cheaper subs’
In a full-page advert published in The Age newspaper on Saturday, Subway boasted that it had “non-nuclear powered” subs which were “$90 billion cheaper” – a dig at the bloated cost of Australia’s submarine deal with France, before Canberra backed out in favor of acquiring nuclear-powered submarines from the US. …
Read More »AUKUS nuclear submarine deal not a ‘betrayal,’ UK defence minister says, as French cut out of lucrative military contract
Speaking on Thursday, Ben Wallace said that the UK had no strategic differences with France after Paris and French shipbuilder Naval Group were cut out of a deal to deliver submarines to Australia. The AUKUS (Australia, UK, US) pact, announced by the countries’ leaders on Wednesday night, will see Australia …
Read More »France ‘regrets’ AUKUS nuclear submarine deal that scuttled its multi-billion ‘contract of century’ with Australia
US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his British counterpart Boris Johnson announced the ‘AUKUS’ initiative in a three-way virtual event on Wednesday. It is supposed to start 18-month consultations to eventually provide Australia with nuclear-powered but conventionally armed submarines – making it the first non-atomic nation …
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