Submarine crisis: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrisson “deliberately deceived France”, according to his predecessor

His government had chosen the French program in 2016. Former Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull does not have enough harsh words to qualify the behavior of his successor, Scott Morrisson. The latter, preferring to sign a strategic partnership to counter China, named “Aukus” (acronym for English Australia, United Kingdom, United States) and including the supply of American submarines, torpedoed the contract of more than 31 billion euros for an order for twelve French submarines.

Mr. Morrison assured that the decision to prefer nuclear-powered submarines was motivated by a change of dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region, where Chinese military power is increasing its claims over almost the entire China Sea. southern.

“Morrison did not act in good faith. He deliberately deceived France. He has no other argument to justify his behavior than to say that it was in Australia’s interest ”, accused Mr. Turnbull before the National Press Club in Canberra and in a column published in The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday September 29. “France thinks it has been deceived and humiliated, and it has been. This betrayal of trust will mark our relations with Europe for years to come., added Turnbull. The Australian government has treated the French Republic with contempt. “

No contract despite the partnership

According to the former head of government, despite the new defense partnership between the three Anglo-Saxon countries, no contract has been signed to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines, which should be British Astute or of the Americans Virginia.

“Now Australia has no new submarine program at all, lamented Malcolm Turnbull. The only certainty is that we will not have a new submarine for twenty years and their cost will be much higher than those of French design. “

In his tribune, he recalled that, in order to operate a fleet of nuclear submarines, a civilian nuclear industry capable of ensuring its maintenance was needed. He adds that “American and British reactors use highly enriched uranium [au-delà d’une concentration supérieure à 20 %], or UHE “. For Australia, a state that does not have nuclear weapons, “The use of HEU in a submarine does not constitute a violation of the non-proliferation treaty, but it sets a precedent that other currently non-nuclear-weapon states, such as Iran, will seek to exploit to justify the production of HEU “.

Scott Morrison and Malcolm Turnbull are two rivals within Australia’s Liberal Party, with the former taking the place of runner-up in August 2018 after Mr Turnbull was dismissed by the party’s Tory wing.