Macron accuses Australian PM of lying over submarine deal

[Celerity]

French president criticises Scott Morrison and expresses scepticism that Aukus pact will deliver on schedule

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/31/macron-accuses-australian-pm-of-lying-over-submarine-deal

Emmanuel Macron has accused the Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, of lying to him over an abandoned $90bn submarine contract, in a significant escalation of tensions between Paris and Canberra.

The French president levelled the accusation in impromptu comments to Australian journalists on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rome. He said he had a lot of “respect and friendship” for Australia and Australians, but that respect between nations needed to be reciprocated.

“I just say when we have respect, you have to be true and you have to behave in line and consistent with this value,” he said.

When asked whether he thought Morrison had lied to him by not revealing Australia’s secret dialogue with the UK and US over the acquisition of nuclear submarines, a dialogue that ultimately became the Aukus pact, Macron was direct in his response. “I don’t think, I know,” he said.

[dewsgirl]

1. This whole story is baffling, I wonder how this

actually happened?