Former UK prime minister Boris Johnson has reflected on the secrecy required for pulling off the AUKUS deal where Australia backed out of a deal to acquire diesel submarines from France in favour of American nuclear submarines.
In an exclusive interview with Sky News Australia host Sharri Markson ahead of his planned tour of Australia to promote his book 'Unleashed', the former UK PM and Mayor of London revealed why France was told at the last minute that Australia would reneg on the deal.
“The relationships between France and the UK - as with France and with the UK and Australia - are incredibly strong and actually, there were many, many things where Emmanuel and I agreed,” Mr Johnson said.“It wasn't my secret to share with him, as it were. It was something that Australia needed to sort out, but I couldn't see any other way of organising it.”
“In order to give the technology to Australia, the UK clearly had to get the acquiescence of the United States because the technology ultimately comes from the US. And the US is very vigilant in guarding those secrets,” Mr Johnson told Markson. Mr Johnson has spoken to Sky News about the secrecy required to pull off the AUKUS deal. Picture: Supplied
“I don't resile from it for one second. These decisions are difficult. Of course, it has caused disappointment and it has caused an impact on the relationship with France,”“But I'm not going to put that interest higher than Australia's national interest, and I don't think any Australian would expect me to do the same.”
Anthony Albanese French Submarines Emmanuel Macron Boris Johnson France AUKUS
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