From left to right: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and American President Joe Biden launch the AUKUS partnership in London, Canberra and Washington, respectively, on Thursday. Reuters file photos
BELGIUM — The European Union said on Thursday that trade and tech talks with the United States would go ahead as planned next week, despite France’s submarine spat with Washington putting them in doubt.
A furious Paris had floated the idea of delaying the meeting of the new Trade and Technology Council in Pittsburgh on September 29, in retaliation for a pact between the US, Australia and Britain — dubbed AUKUS — that saw Canberra scrap a multi-billion-dollar sub order from France.
AUKUS nuke sub deal may destabilize Asean
On September 16, 2021, the US announced the AUKUS alliance amongst US, UK and Australia with a nuclear submarine deal with Australia.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian described AUKUS as “a stab in the back,” and withdrew its ambassadors from the US and Australia in protest.
Sober voices from Indonesia and Malaysia, however, warned that the deal may lead to a nuclear arms race in the already contentious Asia Pacific region.
The Asean-member states signed the Treaty of Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ Treaty) in December 1995, as a commitment to preserve the Southeast Asian region as a region free of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. Malaysia warns AUKUS could lead to the escalation of arms race in the region.
It could also potentially spark tension among the world superpowers, and aggravate aggression between them in the region, particularly in the South China Sea.
Indonesia expresses its deep concern over the continuing arms race and power projection in the region, and stresses the importance of Australia’s commitment to continue meeting all of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations.
Even Singapore gave a tepid reception saying that it hopes that AUKUS would contribute constructively to the peace and stability of the region and complement the regional architecture.
Australia’s efforts to possess nuclear submarine technology places in question its status as a non-nuclear weapon state party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and a party to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone (SPNFZ) Treaty.
China said the international community, including Australia’s neighboring countries, has reason to question Australia’s sincerity in honoring its nuclear non-proliferation commitments.
Faced with the dual challenge of combating COVID-19 and revitalizing the economy, China added that people in the Asia-Pacific need growth and employment, not submarines and ammunition.
Brussels plans talks
But Brussels announced the talks were still on a day after French leader Emmanuel Macron and US President Joe Biden sought to defuse the tensions in a phone call.
“Strategic alliances are about shaping common approaches and also overcoming difficulties,” tweeted Valdis Dombrovskis, EU trade commissioner.
EU allies expressed solidarity with France over the row that saw Paris recall its ambassador to Washington, but numerous member states were wary of steps that could worsen ties with the Biden administration.
The EU-US tech council was agreed at a summit in June to look at issues including trying to attune their strategies on regulating big tech and defend democratic values on the internet.
The council came at the request of the Europeans who sought concrete signs of increased transatlantic cooperation after years of tension under president Donald Trump, especially over trade matters.
An EU spokeswoman said the first meeting “will address short-term semiconductor issues” in the face of a global crunch of the key chips.
France called Australia’s decision to ditch a deal to buy French submarines in favor of US vessels a “stab in the back.”
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