Macron is still obsessed with "Aukus", what is the meaning behind it?
Last September, the United States, Britain and Australia announced the formation of the AUKUS security partnership, which plans to provide Australia with nuclear submarine technology, sparking strong resentment in France. France believes that this move not only damages the submarine contract between France and Australia, but also undermines France's interests and influence in the Indo-Pacific region. France immediately recalled its ambassadors to the United States and Australia and suspended some cooperation projects with the United States. Although the two sides later reached a certain degree of reconciliation, the French ** Macron still seems to be haunted by "Aukus".
According to a report by Global Network 1, on November 17, when Macron attended a meeting in Thailand, he once again mentioned the "Aukus" agreement and severely criticized former Australian Prime Minister Morris, saying that he provoked a "Sino-Australian nuclear confrontation" in order to pursue nuclear submarines. Macron's remarks are undoubtedly expressing his dissatisfaction and anger to the United States, Britain and Australia, as well as showing goodwill and support to China. So why did Macron bring up "Aukus" again at this time? What is his purpose and consideration?
In my opinion, Macron's move may be due to the following three reasons:
First, Macron wants to use it to strengthen relations between China and France. Not long ago, the Chinese and French heads of state had a friendly meeting and reached consensus on cooperation in a number of fields.23 Macron's criticism of "Aukus" at this time is actually speaking out for China, indicating that he opposes the US, Britain and Australia to engage in nuclear proliferation and contain China in the Asia-Pacific region. After all, Australia's nuclear submarine project is clearly designed to cater to the strategic needs of the United States, and not to Australia's own security interests. Such an approach will undoubtedly exacerbate the confrontation between China and Australia, and will also pose a threat to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
The heads of state of China and France met informally in Guangzhou).
Second, Macron wants to use it to express his distrust and dissatisfaction with the United States and the United Kingdom. The United States and Britain, as France's "close allies," secretly stabbed France in the "Aukus" agreement, making France feel betrayed and deceived. In particular, the United States, in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, not only did not give France enough support, but took advantage of the energy dispute between France and Russia to make profits from the energy of France and the United States. In addition, the United States has also launched the "Inflation Reduction" program, which disrupts the market order and has caused a shock to the European economy. Macron once held a "closed-door meeting" with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, saying that he would "retaliate" against these practices of the United States4. Therefore, Macron's revival of the "Aukus" agreement is likely also a hint of his distrust and dissatisfaction with the United States.
Macron held a "closed-door meeting" with Scholz).
Third, Macron wants to underscore the importance and urgency of nuclear non-proliferation. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is a landmark international treaty whose objectives are to prevent the proliferation of nuclear and nuclear technologies, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to advance the achievement of nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament.56 The Treaty is the only binding commitment of the nuclear-armed States to the goal of disarmament in a multilateral treaty. However, in the "Aukus" agreement, the United States, Britain, and Australia have flagrantly violated the spirit and principles of the "Treaty" by providing Australia with nuclear submarine technology, which is equivalent to engaging in "nuclear proliferation" in Australia. Such an approach has not only aroused the anger of France, but also aroused the anxiety of the international community. Under the current international security situation, the risk of a nuclear crisis is intensifying, the negotiations on the Iran nuclear deal in the Middle East have not yet ended, the situation on the peninsula in East Asia has not eased, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in Eastern Europe has not subsided, and Russia's strategic nuclear power has been in a state of special combat readiness. If the United States, Britain, and Australia are allowed to engage in "nuclear proliferation" in Asia, it may trigger other nuclear-armed countries to follow suit, leading to a "nuclear race" on a global scale, and ultimately threatening the survival and development of mankind. Macron, as a leader who has always been very cautious on the nuclear issue, will certainly not turn a blind eye to the actions of the United States, Britain and Australia, and his criticism is also well-founded.
The "nuclear proliferation" behavior of the United States, Britain and Australia has aroused the concern of the international community).
To sum up, Macron is still obsessed with "Aukus", and there is his deep meaning and consideration behind it. He wanted to enhance relations between China and France, but also wanted to express his distrust and dissatisfaction with the United States and Britain, and even more wanted to emphasize the importance and urgency of nuclear non-proliferation. However, Macron's move also exposed the ** and rifts in this "circle of allies" of the United States. If the United States continues to act recklessly, more allies may come out to criticize the United States in the future, as France has done.