Ursula von der Leyen has demanded a full investigation. EU officials are considering pulling out of technology talks with the US. And negotiations over a trade deal with Australia have been put in doubt.
Over the last 24 hours, the full might of the European Union has been deployed on the side of France in the row over a cancelled submarine contract and the creation of the Australian-US-UK defence pact.
But hold on. Why exactly is the EU getting behind what is, after all, just an export order for a French arms manufacturer?
There is no mistaking French fury over Australia’s decision to cancel the £40 billion order for submarines, which was placed with France’s Naval Group, and opt instead for an American-British system, at the same time as creating a new three-way defence alliance known as Aukus.
The EU is embarrassing itself
President Macron has recalled ambassadors from Canberra and Washington. French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has talked of being ‘stabbed in the back’.
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