European Union Solidly Supports France In Nuclear Submarine Crisis, Slogan Of President Joe Biden Is Mentioned

Illustration of the European Union. (Wikimedia Commons/Thijs ter Haar)

JAKARTA - The European Union has solidly declared its support for France, amid a nuclear submarine crisis linked to the new defense alliance formed by the United States (US), Britain and Australia, citing the slogan 'America is back' echoed by US President Joe Biden.

At a meeting in New York Monday local time, European Foreign Ministers expressed support and solidarity with France, during a meeting that discussed canceling an Australian $40 billion conventional submarine order with Paris, in favor of deals with Washington and Britain.

Speaking after a closed-door meeting on the sidelines of the annual gathering of UN world leaders, EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said, "more cooperation, more coordination, less fragmentation, is needed to achieve a stable and peaceful Indo-Pacific region.", taking into account the increasing power of China.

Australia last Wednesday said it would cancel an order for conventional submarines from France, building at least eight nuclear submarines with US and British technology instead, after forging a security partnership with the two countries under the name AUKUS.

The decision angered France, with Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian accusing US President Joe Biden's administration of continuing its predecessor Donald Trump's trend of "unilateralism, uncertainty, brutality and disrespect for partners".

The United States has been trying to defuse the anger of France, a NATO ally. French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Joe Biden will speak on the phone in the next few days.

Australian submarine HMAS Rankin (SSG 78). (Wikimedia Commons/US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist Seaman James R. Evans)

"We are allies, we talk and do not hide different strategies. That's why there is a crisis of confidence. So all that needs clarification and explanation. It may take time," said Le Drian, citing Reuters on September 21.

Separately, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said President Biden would reaffirm his commitment to working with one of his oldest and closest partners on global challenges, referring to France.

It is unclear whether the dispute will have implications for the next round of EU-Australia trade talks scheduled for October 12. Yesterday, Borrell met with Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne in New York yesterday.

Meanwhile, European Council President Charles Michel said he found it difficult to understand the moves of Australia, Britain, and the United States.

"Why? Because with the new Joe Biden Administration, America is back. This is a historic message sent by this new administration and now we have a question. What does it mean, America is back? Is America back to America or somewhere else? We don't know," he told reporters in New York.

"If China is the main focus for Washington then it is 'very strange' for the United States to cooperate with Australia and Britain," he said, calling the decision weakening the transatlantic alliance.

'America Is Back' is a word frequently used by President Joe Biden in relation to his foreign policy since his inauguration. It's like the 'America First' that former President Donald Trump always wore.

"This is a team that reflects the fact that America is back, ready to lead the world, not backing down from it, once again sitting at the top of the table, ready to face our enemies and not rejecting our allies, ready to defend our values." Joe Biden said, quoted by Reuters November 24, 2020.

It should be noted that top officials from the United States and the European Union were due to meet in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US later this month for the inaugural meeting of the newly formed US-EU Council on Trade and Technology, but Michel said some EU members were pushing for this to be postponed.