French Secretary of Foreign Affairs Clement Beaune urged Europe to “strengthen [its] capacities for reflection; strategic autonomy, and defence” when speaking to France24 on Saturday.
He also piqued the United Kingdom, saying that by leaving the EU; London had “returned to the American fold with an accepted form of vassalisation”.
His comments come amid France’s disappointment with the newly-announced defence pact between Washington, Canberra, and London, dubbed AUKUS; which envisages providing Australia with nuclear-powered submarines, therefore ditching an earlier French submarine deal.
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“If we no longer have confidence, we cannot move forward and I do not see how we can trust [our] Australian partners”, Beaune told France24.
The defence deal between the three countries was earlier dubbed by France as a “stab in the back” and “betrayal”, with Paris recalling its ambassadors from both nations.
Washington and Canberra voiced their regret with regard to the withdrawal.
