France is threatening to block discussions between the European Union and Australia on a free trade agreement after the Australian government rescinded a deal with Paris to purchase French submarines. The move comes a few days after France withdrew its ambassadors from Australia and the United States after the United States and Australia jointly announced a partnership with the United Kingdom to provide Australia with U.S. nuclear submarine technology. Echoing statements from French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, France’s European Affairs Secretary Clement Beaune told Politico that “keeping one’s word is the condition of trust between democracies and between allies.” “So it is unthinkable to move forward on trade negotiations as if nothing had happened with a country in which we no longer trust,” Beaune said on Sept. 20. As part of the new security alliance, which French officials apparently learned about just hours before U.S. President Joe Biden’s announcement, Australia will …
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