France says it can sell submarines to Australia again
Introduction
France says it can talk to Australia about a new submarine deal. This happens when the AUKUS plan has problems. The United States gave the first AUKUS work to an American company.
Main Body
The French Trade Minister, Nicolas Forissier, visited Sydney. He said France can help Australia with submarines. In 2021, Australia stopped a big $90 billion deal with France. France was very angry and took its ambassador home. Later, Australia paid $835 million to France. The two leaders met and became friends again. Forissier said France does not think about the past. But he did not talk about submarines with Australian leaders. Australia says it still wants AUKUS. At the same time, the US Department of Defense gave a $276 million contract to General Dynamics Electric Boat. This is for work on nuclear submarines for Australia. Australia paid $4.2 billion for this. The plan says Australia will get old Virginia-class submarines in the 2030s. But the US Navy must first build enough submarines for itself. The US Navy wants to build 2.33 submarines each year. Right now, it builds only 1.1 submarines each year because of delays. Some people have different ideas. Retired Admiral Peter Briggs says Australia should stop AUKUS. He says Australia should buy 12 French submarines. He thinks the US cannot build enough submarines. He says the French submarines are cheaper and safer. Another leader, Hugh Jeffrey, says stopping AUKUS is a bad idea. He says Australia will have no new submarines for its old Collins-class boats. He says this is the fourth time Australia tried to replace them. He wants everyone to work hard. US Navy Admiral Samuel Paparo says the AUKUS plan is good. He says Australia can use US submarines now at HMAS Stirling. Opposition leader Andrew Hastie says Australia gives too much power to the US. He says Australia loses its own abilities. Professor Mark Beeson says the AUKUS plan is a very bad investment. He says new drones can find submarines, so the submarines will be old and not useful.
Conclusion
France says it can make a new submarine deal with Australia. The US and Australia took the first money step for AUKUS. Australian leaders and US military say they want AUKUS. But slow building and criticism make people ask if the plan will work.