56-billion scandal: how a defense contract conflicted the Americans and French
A story that wasn't too known in our country, but became a top topic abroad: the United States and France staged a diplomatic conflict. Because of one military contract.
We explain how 12 submarines and one agreement quarreled the two countries and how it could end.
Photo Getty Images
1. In fact, the headline was supposed to be different: The United States has created a new powerful alliance against China
AUKUS stands for Australia, United Kingdom, and the United States. It's easy to pronounce, and it's the name of the new military bloc. It was launched on September 15 by US President Joe Biden and the Prime Ministers of Britain and Australia, Boris Johnson and Scott Morrison.
The US president abstractly called the agreement "a way to respond to the current strategic situation in the region and how it can change." Behind these words lies a very pragmatic idea: to curb the ambitions of China, which is determined to dominate the region (and has already tried to put pressure on the Australians because of their sympathy for the United States).
The most important plan for AUKUS so far is to help Australia with the navy. The Americans and the British will share modern (and secret) technologies for nuclear submarines with Canberra, and the Australians will build at least 8 such submarines. It will take more than one year, so Morrison has a "plan B": to rent submarines for a while in the United States or the UK.
In addition, the trio of countries will work together on computer technology and cyberspace, as well as artificial intelligence and underwater technology (there are also races between China and the West).
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