British prime minister calls partnership with US and Australia a crucial step for global security
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has advised the French government to get a grip and leave it alone on the subject of breaking its military contract with Australia. He told reporters in Washington, where he is on a visit, on Wednesday, commenting on Paris’ harsh statements after the announcement of a new security partnership – AUKUS – between the US, Britain and Australia.
“I think it’s about time some of our dear friends in the world got a grip (prenez un grip) and left me alone (donnez-moi un break),” the British head of government said in a mixture of English and French on Sky News television.
Johnson called AUKUS “a crucial step for global security. It is three equally minded allies standing shoulder to shoulder to create a new partnership for the sake of sharing technology. It is not exclusive. It’s not trying to push anyone out, it’s not directed, for example, against China,” Johnson noted.
Under the deal, Australia, in particular, plans to use American and British technology to build at least eight nuclear-powered submarines, the first of which will enter service in 2036, and to re-equip its armed forces with American cruise missiles. Because of this, Canberra broke the largest defence contract in its history with France, where the decision has already been called a stab in the back. The PRC warned that the creation of AUKUS would exacerbate the arms race and called on the alliance members to abandon their Cold War-era mentality and narrow-minded geopolitical concepts.