Why Australia's breach of the 'deal of the century' was predictable

Abstract

If the creation of the new AUKUS alliance – Australia, Great Britain, United States – represents a "blow in the back" to France, an unthinkable "betrayal" "between allies", the unilateral cancellation by Australia of the contract for the purchase of French submarines constitutes, for its part, a snub for French diplomacy.

But was this cancellation so unexpected? The answer is no, and this for several historical, cultural and diplomatic reasons. Show more