Submarine crisis: the Anglo-Saxon press denounces a “growing subordination” of the United Kingdom – archyworldys

The Australia’s decision to end the “contract of the century” with France for twelve conventionally powered submarines and the almost simultaneous announcement of a new alliance between the United States, Great Britain and Australia in the Indo-Pacific zone opened a breach on Wednesday (September 15th) in the diplomatic relations between these countries. France, which sees a multibillion-euro contract escaping its naval industry, immediately denounced a “Blow in the back” and recalled its ambassadors in Washington and Camberra.

Since then, the crisis has made the front page of French newspapers. The foreign media are less prolific on the affair, but these canceled submarines and this new alliance, named Aukus (for the Anglo-Saxon initials of the countries involved) are the subject of several chronicles, analyzes and editorials. However – and contrary to the idea that one might think of it – these articles above all call on Britons and Australians to be cautious, and even lecture, half-heartedly, American methods.

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In the United States, the New York Times thus believes that President Joe Biden “Has turned against an important European ally”, by excluding France from this alliance intended to counter the rise of China in the region. And to recall that the upcoming meetings in Washington – Mr. Biden is to meet the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, before receiving, on Friday, the members of the Quad, an informal partnership of the United States with the Japanese, the Australians and the Indians – may reinforce the French feeling that, “In a century focused on China, the historical allies of continental Europe are less important”.

Damaged “vital diplomatic relations”

the Wall Street Journal is no less critical of American behavior: ” Although [Joe Biden] has managed to spare a greater number of traditional allies of the United States than Donald Trump, he has also succeeded in damaging vital diplomatic relations and, in the case of France, in exposing marked differences in the way of confronting China . “ For its part, the Washington post provides a more American-centric analysis. According to his journalist, Australia only does “To model, in a way, its Chinese strategy on that of Washington”. the United Kingdom as for him hopes “Prove your capabilities after Brexit [et] is looking forward to [ne] to play [que] the role of the junior partner ”. And to conclude soberly with a quote from the director of an Australian think-tank: “It’s hardly surprising that democracies like Australia and Japan are looking for solutions to counter the rise of China. (…) The United States is indispensable in all of these plans. “

In the space of one night, Australia has gone, for Paris, from a “friend and ally to a nation that cannot be trusted”

Critics of American behavior, foreign media also warn Australia. If it appears that the island is taking “A central role in a major geopolitical battle of this era”, valued a journalist from Sydney Morning Herald, a colleague of the same newspaper asserts, however, that French President Emmanuel Macron “Has good reason to be angry and disappointed with Australia”. In the space of one night, Australia went from a “Friend and ally to a nation that cannot be trusted”, continues the second largest newspaper in the country.

Read also: France obtains symbolic support from Europeans

And to exhibit: “The problem for [le premier ministre australien Scott] Morrison is that he has disappointed Macron as German Chancellor Angela Merkel steps down from power and the French president de facto goes to take over Europe. Australia has not only engaged in a battle with France, but also with the European Union. ” The EU has indeed provided symbolic support to France on Tuesday. In Brussels, seat of the European authorities, the newspaper The evening thus sees the Union “Stunned” by the latest American, British and Australian statements and prefers to write about the new European strategy for the Indo-Pacific zone, ironically revealed the day after the announcement of the creation of Aukus.

“Strong unilateralist tendencies”

It is also the wrath of Europe that the newspapers fear for the United Kingdom. After this apparent victory, the submarine crisis could finally isolate him even more, after its exit from the European Union, January 31, 2020. A article from New York Times underline as well “A first tangible victory in the British campaign to make the post-Brexit United Kingdom an international player”, but warns against the United States “Will pursue their interests without sentimentality for these relations” diplomatic.

The journalist quotes in particular the director of the American program of a British research institute: “Most remarkable is how little Americans talk about it and how much the British talk about it. That says a lot about this special relationship [arguée par le Royaume-Uni]. Special does not mean equal. “

“If an America that is less and less docile takes one path and an upset Europe takes another, where will the UK go?” “Asks the” Guardian “

Across the Channel, the articles of Guardian leave little room for analysis of the crisis, and rather content themselves with reporting the reactions of each other. However, an editorial promises to give the newspaper’s point of view on “Anglo-French relations”. The article criticizes the approach of the new Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Liz Truss, who promotes the nebulous concept of “Global Britain” , which intends to define the place of the United Kingdom in the world over the next few years. “Aukus highlights a number of problems with the ‘Global Britain’ project; one of them being the growing subordination of the country to the United States, even though Joe Biden shows strong unilateralist tendencies ”, denounces the social-liberal media.

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“It is obvious, or should be, that the European Union and the United Kingdom have a strong interest in forming a common front in several areas”, he also notes. And the Guardian to conclude with a question: “If an America that is less and less docile takes one path and an upset Europe takes another, where will the UK go?” ”

the Telegraph, on the contrary, choux pas cher of the crisis, advancing “The golden opportunity” offered by the breach of the French contract on submarines for the benefit of American and British technologies and summoning Emmanuel Macron “To learn to live with“ Global Britain ””. The French president would get angry like a child – “Throwing his toys out of the pram”, literally: “throwing his toys out of the pram” – while“Aukus is a good idea”.

Our selection of articles on the submarine crisis between France and Australia

Sandra Favier