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Saturday, 18 September 2021 (YJC)_ French Secretary of Foreign Affairs urged Europe to "strengthen capacities for reflection".
French Secretary of Foreign Affairs Clement Beaune urged Europe to "strengthen [its] capacities for reflection, strategic autonomy, and defence" when speaking to France24 on Saturday.
"Why would the Americans ensure our defence in [the] matter? It's up to us to do it!", he said, stressing that Europeans have "the expertise, the financial means, and the capacity to do it in Europe".
France earlier recalled its ambassadors from the United States and Australia amid Washington, Canberra, and London creating a trilateral security deal to supply Australia with nuclear-powered submarines instead of French-made conventional vessels.
His comments come amid France's disappointment with the newly-announced defence pact between Washington, Canberra, and London, dubbed AUKUS, which envisages providing Australia with nuclear-powered submarines, therefore ditching an earlier French submarine deal.
"I do not know how we can trust our Australian partners now. And this was not [just] a move against France, this undermines Europe's trust because now it cannot have confidence in its partners," Beaune told the France 24 broadcaster.
The defence deal between the three countries was earlier dubbed by France as a "stab in the back" and "betrayal", with Paris recalling its ambassadors from both nations. Washington and Canberra voiced their regret with regard to the withdrawal.
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