A security partnership between America, Britain and Australia . Chinese and French anger

On Wednesday, a senior White House official announced that the United States, Britain and Australia have launched a new security partnership in the Indo-Pacific region.

The official said the new security treaty called “Ocos” will allow Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, in a move that would lead Canberra to cancel a huge order it had with Paris for the purchase of French-made submarines.

US President Joe Biden stressed on Wednesday that the US “looks forward to working closely with France and other key partners” in the Pacific and Indian Ocean region. in a message of reassurance to Paris after Washington, London and Canberra have committed in a huge partnership, implicitly and primarily directed against China.

“France, in notably, it has an important presence in the Indo-Atlantic region and is a key partner and ally, “Biden said.

As part of the new safety partnership, Canberra acquires a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, in a move that would nullify a huge deal worth nearly $ 31 billion concluded by Canberra with Paris to purchase conventional French submarines.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed on Wednesday that his country will acquire nuclear-powered submarines as part of the new security partnership.

“The first major initiative under (this security treaty called) ‘Ocos’ will be for Australia to get a fleet of propelled submarines,” Morrison said during a video conference with his British counterpart Boris Johnson and the president of the United States. United States Biden, and followed by reporters in the White House. nuclear”.

For its part, French defense industry group Naval Group expressed “great disappointment” after Australia announced Wednesday that it would cancel a huge € 31 billion deal to buy conventional French submarines.

“The Australian Commonwealth did not want to commit to the next phase of the program, which is a major disappointment for Naval Group, which has provided Australia with a conventional submarine of regional superiority and exceptional performance,” the group said. in a note.

China: security pact reflects “cold war mentality”

In a Chinese response, the Chinese Embassy in Washington said the US, Britain and Australia should “get rid of the Cold War mentality and ideological prejudices”. in response to a new security agreement between the three countries.

Asked for comment, Chinese Embassy spokesman Liu Bingyu said the three countries “should not form exclusion blocks that target or harm third party interests. The most important thing they should do is get rid of the Cold War and ideological prejudices “.

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