Australian PM says Macron not taking his calls

America should put it off. Just a drop in the bucket if compared to the trillions spent in Afghanistan and Iraq…and Nan and Korea

France in retaliation cancelled a cocktail party to mark U.S.-French ties.

Damn that sound serious.

There were was excellent fourgras and truffles for the tea party. I hope they donate it to the third world along Will the hundreds of millions of vaccines the French are donating as well.

hrrp//:www.frenchdinate5,000,001 vaccines

If you are rude to friends expect to be shunned. Another diplomatic disaster in Morrison’s hamper of disaster.

You just have to realise when to cut your losses. If it puts their noses out of joint, so be it. Lengthy delays, cost blowouts are not acceptable when a contract states a time frame and expenditure.

Besides, they have never gotten over Australia producing higher quality champagne. They whinged so much that Australia was forced to rename to "sparkling wine." Cancelling a cocktail party just means that the taxpayers of France have saved some money.

To be fair, who would actually want to have a conversation with Scott Morrison? The man is a special combination of hideous and vacuous.

Scott Morrison- A religious bigot,climate change denialist and racist rude nasty man - I wouldn't take his calls either !

I think, except for this submarines contract, France has no benefit being partner with this australian government They prefer patching things up with US leaving this pitiful Morrison play with Boris.

The time difference may be the problem.

I didn't know much about PM Morrison before this thread, but based on the reaction he is generating I think I might just like him! Although the brutal lockdowns and extinction of freedoms in Oz are troubling.

Plus, seriously, would you rather ride in a French submarine or an American one?

This will be resolved in time. Democratic nations resolve their differences by dialogue and negotiation, and taking or not taking calls is part of the negotiation. If France wants to keep it's posessions in the Pacific secure without incurring the expense of a permanent Pacific naval presence, it is in it's best interests to maintain a close allied relationship with Australia, UK and US. and this will reality will prevail.

It is a week since Australia without warning tore up a long-standing A$90 billion (U.S.$66 billion) deal to buy a dozen French submarines.

The contract signed was for A$50 billion not A$90Billion as reported here. Thats like signing to buy a car for $50k but being charged $90k before you can pick it up. Would you still buy the car?

The problems were cause by France itself and it cant blame Australia for cancelling on what turned into a rotten deal.

He's probably grounded, best call his wife.

Somewhere there is an extremely pi$$ed off French submarine salesman who has lost an awful lot of commission, I hope he hasn't started to spend it already.

Ah poor little frenchies. This all so amusing!

France made a sub-optimal product I’ll-suited to the task. Australia exercised an exit option in the contest to.

its done Macron, get over it.

As usual, the macaroon behaving like a spoiled kid who has dropped his lollipop and mummy won’t buy him another. Hardly statesmanlike.

As others have pointed out, France massively over promised and hugely under performed then tried to stiff the Australians for the cost.

Australia as any sovereign state looked to what it’s real world strategic interests were, those had changed very considerably since 2009 when they began the process and the the over priced, under performing sub contract wouldn’t provide what was now needed even if the subs were eventually delivered. Where is the real surprise that Australia cancelled the contract.

Macron has really thrown all his toys out of his pram and and this very moment is sucking his thumb and calling for his mother. The French population must be embarrassed.

They dropped the ball and let out far too many secrets and got punished for it, take responsibility for your actions and move on! It’s called being an adult, no a entitled man child.

The Australia regime seems to be making a habit of pi**ing off much larger powers.

As usual, the macaroon behaving like a spoiled kid who has dropped his lollipop and mummy won’t buy him another. Hardly statesmanlike.

As others have pointed out, France massively over promised and hugely under performed then tried to stiff the Australians for the cost.

I don't know the details but assuming this is accurate, the Australian regime promised France the deal was on in July when they much have been in negotiations with USA long before that. I guess the Australian regime was justifiably worried about the outrage USA selling nuclear power subs to a non nuclear tech country would illicit.

Let's hope common sense prevails and this deal ends up getting cancelled. Get diesel electric subs. Beter for coastal defence and not dangerous in the hands of a non-nuclear tech country.

Let's just hope those moving and submerged Aussie Fukushimas won't suffer a nuclear leak or meltdown near NZ , Okinawa and Papua New Guinea.

Why should Macron picking up Scottmo's phone? Backstabber!

You can still clean up the situation at once and make that splendid cocktail party possible, just buying some additional Mirage fighter planes from the French. I guess, he also will pick up the phone receiver then, if she lets him out of her room when it’s ringing. lol

EU is all alone and has no friends. Oh nooo...

Now France can sell the 2CV submarines to China. LOL

EU is all alone and has no friends. Oh nooo...

EU won't exist in another 10 years or so, Brexit was the beginning of the end for these globalist unelected bureaucrats.

In a moment of rage and pique, French President Emmanuel Macron took it upon himself to throw his head up to his waist into a political caldron .

And at the same time drag the cool People of France into the mix.

The pompous conceited posturing political vanity is breathtaking vainglory at it most extreme.

There is press speculation that Emmanuel Macron is soon to relinquish French permanent security council membership in exchange for some EU army of sorts.

That will never happen, all other permanent security council members would have to agree.

EU won't exist in another 10 years or so, Brexit was the beginning of the end for these globalist unelected bureaucrats.

I don't know about EU but my gut feeling is that Macron won't last long.

EU won't exist in another 10 years or so, Brexit was the beginning of the end for these globalist unelected bureaucrats.

Agreed.

The French submarines , 2 years behind schedule, more then double the original budget , no where near finished.

and the company building them has been hacked and lost data multiple times.

so French - and they’re lucky the Australian government didn’t quit the deal sooner and will still pay out the contract in full

the French should take a long hard look at themselves and how they’ve treated a county that donated so much blood in freeing them.

get your own house in order I say

Morrison, may be you should have called before the cancellation of the deal, not after it?

The whole story is going to be interesting. Those who complain about French cost overruns should get a lot of popcorn and watch the real cost overruns / rip-off professionals from the American military industry do their stuff. The F-35 program, Gerald Ford nuclear aircraft carrier and Zumwalt-class destroyers with their magic railguns are the shining examples of their mastery of the art. God save Australia!

For those upset France had little prior warning, other than those that Australia was unhappy with the cost over runs and delays in production which it has been well aware of for years, picture this.

France is notified months in advance that Australia is going to cancel this contract and buy nuclear submarines with US and UK technology. What does France do? France leaks to the press in Australia that they are looking at nuclear submarines so the press and public can pressure the government to not do that, and to stick to the French agreement. Such action would suit French interests and France would look all innocent. They would not have kept it quiet and taken no action to ensure their contract went ahead.

It was in Australian interests that AUKUS be signed before the public was made aware of it. Australia need those nuclear powered submarines for its defense. French interests, though important as an ally come second to Australian interests where it's Australia's defense that is the issue.