This is EXTREMELY bad.

By not being serious about its energy policy over the past two decades, the UK has come to rely on this 2 gigawatt cable with France.

It's almost always running at full blast importing power from French nuclear reactors.

Enough for millions of people. https://t.co/LnRvzid3Lw

— Mark Nelson (@energybants) September 15, 2021

Maybe the grieve over the lost submarines makes the French forget how to repair power cables.

Theresa May questions if Aukus pact could lead to war over Taiwan | The Guardian |

Boris Johnson has been challenged by his predecessor Theresa May as to whether the newly signed Aukus defence pact between the UK, US and Australia could lead to Britain being dragged into a war with China over Taiwan.

The intervention came during a Commons debate on the three-country agreement, under which the US and UK will share sensitive technology with Australia to allow it to develop its first nuclear-powered submarines.

The former British prime minister asked Johnson: "What are the implications of this pact for the stance that would be taken by the United Kingdom in its response should China attempt to invade Taiwan?"

'Sapere aude'

France says Biden acted like Trump to sink Australia defence deal | Reuters |

Two weeks ago, the Australian defence and foreign ministers had reconfirmed the deal to France, and French President Emmanuel Macron lauded decades of future cooperation when hosting Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in June.

"It's a stab in the back. We created a relationship of trust with Australia and that trust has been broken," Le Drian said.

Relations between Trump and Macron soured during Trump's presidency, and diplomats say there have been concerns in recent months that Biden is not being forthright with his European allies.

...
Washington's actions in Australia are likely to further strain Transatlantic ties. The European Union was due to roll out its Indo-Pacific strategy later on Thursday and Paris is preparing to take on the EU presidency.

"This is a clap of thunder and for many in Paris a Trafalgar moment," Bruno Tertrais, Deputy Director of the Paris-based think tank the Foundation of Strategic Research said on Twitter, referring to a French naval defeat in 1805 that was followed by British naval supremacy.

He said it would "complicate the transatlantic cooperation in and about the region. Beijing will benefit."

US move to dislodge France from Australia submarine deal is incoherent - French ministers [_link] pic.twitter.com/CEzuOiVtIf

— Reuters (@Reuters) September 16, 2021

'Sapere aude'

France deplores 'stab in the back' by Australia over submarines

Defence Minister Florence Parly called Australia's about-face "very bad news with regard to keeping one's word", while adding that France is "clear-eyed as to how the United States treats its allies".

"In terms of geopolitics and international relations, it's serious," she told RFI radio on Thursday.

Parly and Le Drian had already denounced a "regrettable" move by Canberra in a statement overnight, saying it underscored the need to bolster "a European strategic autonomy".

'Sapere aude'

Emmanuel Macron tells Scott Morrison  'we're by your side' on China

Emmanuel Macron has declared "we stand by your side" in Australia's ongoing stoush with China, declaring Canberra "central" to regional stability.

The French President made the comments as he welcomed Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the Elysee Palace in Paris, where the pair discussed Beijing's increasingly assertive posture in the Indo-Pacific.

Transcript PM Morrison visit to OECD HQ Paris

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, how did your discussions go with President Macron around the submarine program and the cost of that?

PRIME MINISTER: It was a very positive discussion we had last night about a whole raft of issues and of course including the contract. We are coming up to important gates in that contract and there have been issues that we have had to address over particularly the last eight months and President Macron and I have a very, very open and very transparent, and very friendly relationship where we can speak candidly to each other about these issues.

Ahh ... there was a Plan B 🤥

JOURNALIST: Did you ask President Macron to take a greater hand in the subs contract and in your meeting with Naval Group, did that leave you with a sense that we do need a Plan B?

PRIME MINISTER: First of all I would say that President Macron has been taking a very active role. He and I have been discussing these issues for some time and he has an open invitation for he and I to raise issues that relate to this contract and we have, consistently. And I appreciate the direct role that he has played in ensuring that we've seen a much-improved position come forward from Naval over the last six months, but there is still a long way to go.

JOURNALIST: Is it true that Naval Group has a September deadline to submit the design work for the next two years and if the Government is not happy in September would you, will you walk away from the contract.

PRIME MINISTER: The Scope Two works, the master schedule, total costs, these are all the next steps. Contracts have gates and that's the next gate.

'Sapere aude'

Foreign Minister @MarisePayne and I discussed our shared commitment to ensuring the peace and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region and discussed tomorrow's Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations. #AUSMIN pic.twitter.com/z2MPXdq047

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) September 15, 2021

'Sapere aude'

#France has canceled a diplomatic celebration with the #US, which was to be held in Washington, after a deal with the UK and #Australia excluded Paris

"The 🇺🇸 choice to exclude a 🇪🇺 ally and partner such as 🇫🇷 from a structuring partnership with Australia, at a time when we are facing unprecedented challenges in the Indo-Pacific region (...) shows a lack of coherence that 🇫🇷 can only note and regret." [_link]

— French Embassy U.S. (@franceintheus) September 16, 2021

Meeting Challenges in the Indo-Pacific and China: French Strategic Perspectives

Perte du "contrat du siècle", maintenant que fait-on ? "Nous allons regarder de manière très précise si des compensations doivent être apportées par les Australiens suite à la rupture du partenariat stratégique" Hervé Grandjean, Porte-parole, ministère des Armées 🎙 @hchevrillon pic.twitter.com/OJY7sB21ls

— BFM Business (@bfmbusiness) September 16, 2021

'Sapere aude'