White House spokesman Psaki said that the United States welcomes competition with China and does not seek to conflict with China, while an American official emphasized that the United States and France are working closely on common priorities in the Indo-Pacific region.
Psaki added that the United States will continue to cooperate with European partners and allies to ensure the security of the Indo-Pacific region.
She also pointed out that the United States highly valued its relationship with France, and Australia’s purchase of American technology is the Australians’ own business, referring to the new alliance “AUKUS” established between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Psaki revealed that the United States had already talked with French officials before completing the sale of submarines to Australia.
US Secretary of State Blinken said that the United States welcomes European countries to play an important role in the Indo-Pacific region, especially France, an important partner.
New agreement
Brinken made the above comments at a press conference held after the meeting of the foreign ministers and defense ministers of the United States and Australia in Washington. Just a day ago, the United States and the United Kingdom announced that they would provide Australia with the technology to manufacture nuclear-powered submarines, and this technology will replace the submarine deal between Australia and France.
The Australian Defense Minister Dutton stated that Australia and the United States have reached a new agreement on strengthening cooperation in the air force field, and this will be achieved through the regular deployment of all types of US military aircraft in Australia.
At the same time, a senior White House official pointed out in a statement to Al Jazeera that the United States is working closely with France on common priorities for the Indo-Pacific region and will continue to do so.
The official added that revitalizing alliances and partnerships to support a rules-based international order means strengthening long-term historical relations, including working with our allies in NATO and the European Union through new combinations.
The US official added that the United States looks forward to cooperating with the European Union to advance the common goals of both sides in the region, including dialogue on China.
In the same context, the French Embassy in Washington stated that the United States had not notified it about the establishment of a new alliance and the acquisition of nuclear submarines by Australia.
According to a report in the New York Times, a French official also revealed that the French government tried to communicate with Brinken and Sullivan on this agreement, but was rejected.
French officials in Washington said that Biden’s announcement of a submarine agreement with Australia was reckless and shocking.
The report quoted a French official as adding that the Biden administration shocked France and that the Americans concealed information about the agreement they reached with Australia.
An official who asked not to be named told AFP reporters that the French authorities cancelled the reception originally scheduled to be held in Washington on the 17th.
The reception was originally planned to be held at the residence of the French ambassador in Washington to commemorate a decisive naval battle in the American War of Independence. This naval battle eventually led to the French fleet’s victory over the British fleet on September 5, 1781.
EU spokesman Peter Stano has stated that the new military partnership established by the United States, Britain and Australia has not been notified to the EU in advance. At the same time, China believes that this agreement is not conducive to regional peace and stability.
The foreign ministers and defense ministers of the United States and Australia hold a press conference in Washington (Al Jazeera)Defense cooperation
The EU’s High Commissioner for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell said that the EU’s time to take independent decisions is more pressing than ever. Such independent decisions will protect its sovereignty and enable it to take decisions directly related to its own interests. .
Borrell added that it is necessary to establish a partnership with the South Pacific region based on a plan that includes defense cooperation, environmental diversity, and security exchanges.
At the same time, China said on the 16th that the new defense partnership established by the United States, Britain, and Australia will seriously damage regional peace and stability.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a press conference in Beijing, “The decision of the United States and the United Kingdom to export nuclear submarine technology to Australia once again proves that the two countries use nuclear exports to seek geopolitical benefits. This is absolutely irresponsible.”
Zhao Lijian added that the “AUKUS” agreement will “seriously damage regional peace and stability, intensify the arms race, and undermine the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.”
He also emphasized that China will “pay close attention to the progress of this agreement,” and he added that “relevant countries must abandon the Cold War mentality.”
The Chinese spokesperson also warned that “As a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Treaty Establishing a South Pacific Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, if Australia imports nuclear submarine technology, its neighbors and the international community have reason to question its implementation of the aforementioned treaties. Sincerity.”
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