When on 16 September 2021 Australian Prime Minister and Liberal MP for Cook Scott Morrison announced the15 September AUKUS pact, a new 'enhanced' trilateral security partnership with the United Kingdom and United States of America along with the cancellation of a submarine fleet contract, it was barely seventeen days after he and his government had signed off on the 22 point undertakings in the 30 August Inaugural Australia-France 2+2 Ministerial Consultations.
It is no wonder that France is feeling betrayed. The very existence of AUKUS put into doubt every line of this inaugural ministerial agreement spanning five decades.
A fact that the French Government recognises when it speaks of the need to redefine its relationship with Australia.
No less a person than one of the signatories to the Australia-France inaugural ministerial agreement, Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, firmly denies there had been any advance consultations with France ahead of Morrison's announcement.
The French Ambassador to Australia, Jean-Pierre Thebault, in a 43 minute speech at the National Press Club on 3 November 2021 clearly differentiated between the Australian people and their current federal Government. On one hand expressing a high regard for Australia and Australians and a polite contempt for a deceitful, untrustworthy Morrison Government and "certain aspects of the Canberra Bubble and its secret cities practices". He confirmed the French Government's firm belief it had been misled and openly lied to by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Joint
statement with:
- Jean-Yves
Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France
- Florence
Parly, Minister for the Armed Forces of France
- The
Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Defence of Australia
30
August 2021
1
- At the inaugural Australia-France Foreign and Defence (2+2)
Ministerial Consultations, Ministers
reflected on the strength of our strategic partnership, in
promoting an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and a rules-based
international order that underpins long-term security and prosperity.
2
- These discussions built on Prime
Minister Morrison's official visit to Paris in June 2021, at the
invitation of President Emmanuel Macron, where the two leaders agreed
on common bilateral, regional and global priorities.
3
- Ministers reaffirmed the shared values, interests and principles
that underpin the bilateral relationship, as reflected in the Joint
Statement of Enhanced Strategic Partnership between Australia and
France, and the Vision Statement on the Australia-France
Relationship. They agreed to publish a report on the
Australia-France initiative (AFiniti) to highlight the depth and
breadth of cooperative activities.
4
- Ministers reaffirmed the
importance of regional cooperation to overcome the health and
economic impacts of COVID-19 and its Delta variant in the
Indo-Pacific, and agreed to continue to support regional
countries' responses, including through the timely and equitable
distribution of safe and effective vaccines to enable comprehensive
coverage across the Pacific and globally as soon as possible. They
reaffirmed their common support to the ACT Accelerator and to the
COVAX facility towards reaching this goal, including through vaccine
dose-sharing commitments and increasing production capacities.
5
- Ministers highlighted the
importance of strengthening the immediate global response to address
climate change and environmental degradation. They recommitted to the
full implementation of the Paris Agreement and to intensify global
action in the lead up to COP26 to decarbonize their economies, pursue
collaboration on renewable energies and achieve a fair transition.
Ministers especially welcomed collaboration on zero and low emissions
technologies, including hydrogen, and looked forward to further
investments in the clean energy transition. They also reaffirmed
their determination to reach an ambitious framework on biodiversity
protection at COP 15 to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
6
- Both sides committed to counter efforts to exploit the COVID-19
crisis to advance geopolitical ambitions, including by addressing
escalations in foreign interference, disinformation and malicious
cyber activity. Australia and France will cooperate further to apply
international law to digital technologies by developing common rules
securing stronger and more stable infrastructure against
cyber-attacks. Ministers committed
to promoting economic openness and opposing coercive economic
practices, which undermine rules-based international trade.
7
- Australia and France agreed to cooperate to uphold the integrity of
the multilateral system and protect international rules, norms and
values. Ministers committed to ensure multilateral institutions are
fit-for-purpose, open and transparent, accountable to member states
and free from undue influence and politicisation. They
reaffirmed their continued engagement within the Alliance for
Multilateralism launched by France and Germany.
8
- Both sides agreed to work
together to promote their shared democratic principles and defend the
universality of human rights.
International
and Regional Security
9
- As partners committed for many
years to helping Afghanistan build its future, Ministers expressed
concern at the deepening humanitarian crisis. They condemned
in the strongest possible terms the attacks carried out on 26 August
and joined their Afghan, US and UK friends in mourning their terrible
loss. Both sides called on the Taliban to cease all violence against
civilians and respect international humanitarian law and the human
rights all Afghans are entitled to, including women and girls. They
called on the Taliban to fulfil their commitment to allow for the
safe and unhindered departure of Afghans and foreign citizens who
wish to leave the country, including after 31 August 2021. Both sides
strongly supported the international community's statements of 29
August and 15 August, and agreed that any future Afghan government
must adhere to Afghanistan's international obligations and commit to
protect against terrorism; safeguard the human rights of all Afghans,
particularly women, children, and ethnic and religious minorities;
uphold the rule of law; allow unhindered and unconditional
humanitarian access; and counter human and drug trafficking
effectively. Ministers called on all parties in Afghanistan to work
in good faith to establish a genuinely inclusive and representative
government, including with the meaningful participation of women and
minority groups.
10
- Ministers discussed opportunities
for closer cooperation on the implementation of their respective
Indo-Pacific strategies, including in the context of the updated
French strategic framework for the Indo-Pacific. They welcomed the
willingness of the European Union to strengthen its participation in
regional fora and its role as a cooperative partner to contribute to
the stability, security, prosperity and sustainable development of
the region in the framework of the upcoming European Union Strategy
for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
11
- Ministers underscored the importance of the strong and enduring
commitment of other partners, including the United States, and
Indo-Pacific partners in upholding an open, inclusive and resilient
Indo-Pacific in accordance with international law. They
reaffirmed the importance of ASEAN centrality and the critical role
of ASEAN-led fora, which sit at the apex of the regional
architecture, in promoting peace, stability, security and prosperity.
They affirmed their support for the principles of the ASEAN Outlook
on the Indo-Pacific and to progressing practical cooperation under
its four priority areas.
12
- Both sides voiced serious
concerns about the situation in the South China Sea. Ministers
expressed their strong opposition to destabilising or coercive
actions that could increase tensions and called for all disputes to
be resolved in a peaceful manner in accordance with international
law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
They reaffirmed the importance of freedom of navigation and
overflight consistent with international law and agreed to closer
maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, including through future
joint transits.
13
- Ministers underscored the importance of peace and stability across
the Taiwan Strait and encouraged the peaceful resolution of
cross-Strait issues. They expressed
support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in international
organisations, in accordance with the organisations' statutes, to
strengthen global cooperation on relevant issues.
14
- Ministers expressed grave
concerns about credible reports of severe human rights abuses against
persons belonging to Uyghur and other Muslim ethnic minorities in
Xinjiang and about the erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy and freedoms.
Ministers renewed their call for China to grant urgent, meaningful
and unfettered access to Xinjiang for independent international
observers, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
15
- Ministers underscored their serious concerns about the crisis in
Myanmar, including the rapidly deteriorating COVID-19 situation, and
its implications for regional stability. They called on the military
regime in Myanmar to immediately end the violence, cease measures to
curtail freedom of expression, release all those arbitrarily detained
and revert the country back to its democratic path. Ministers
welcomed the appointment of the Minister of Foreign Affairs II of
Brunei Darussalam as the ASEAN Chair's Special Envoy on Myanmar,
stressed the need for a political dialogue inclusive of all relevant
parties and urged the Myanmar military to engage with ASEAN to
implement the “Five Point Consensus” fully and swiftly.
16
- Australia and France reaffirmed
their commitment to trilateral cooperation with India on maritime
safety and security, marine and environmental issues, and
multilateral engagement. They commended India's prominent role
in the Indian Ocean. Ministers agreed to work closely in regional
fora, including the Indian Ocean Rim Association and the Indian Ocean
Naval Symposium, to foster cooperation and ensure Indian Ocean
regional architecture has the capacity to address regional
challenges.
17
- Ministers
underscored the importance of promoting dialogue with Pacific Islands
countries as recalled during the 5th France-Oceania Summit, held
virtually on 19 July 2021.
Ministers noted that as a Pacific nation, France brings a unique
perspective to our region while amplifying the Pacific's priorities
on the global stage. They agreed to support Pacific Island countries'
development and resilience, particularly through coordinated
projects, including on critical infrastructure. They also agreed to
hold a biennial ministerial meeting on the Pacific with the Foreign
Affairs and International Development and Pacific Ministers for
Australia and the Foreign Affairs and Overseas Ministers for France.
They
reaffirmed their continued commitment to providing humanitarian
assistance and disaster relief to our Pacific family in times of
need, notably through the France-Australia-New Zealand (FRANZ)
partnership,
under France's chairmanship for the next two years. Ministers agreed
to enhance military interoperability, in support of humanitarian
assistance and disaster relief, including through exercises Croix
du Sud, Equateur and
Marara.
Bilateral
cooperation
18
- Australia and France welcomed the
growing defence relationship and discussed practical ways to
strengthen military-to-military cooperation. Ministers
welcomed Australia's support for France's participation in Exercise
Talisman Sabre 2023, having contributed observers to this year's
exercise. Australia will work with the US and France to determine the
size and scope of France's participation.
19
- Ministers
agreed to begin negotiations on enhancing and diversifying France's
military cooperation with Australia,
in support of France's force posture in the region. The negotiations
demonstrate Australia and France's shared commitment to a secure,
stable and inclusive Indo-Pacific, in line with France's 2021
Indo-Pacific
Strategy and
Australia's 2020 Defence
Strategic Update.
Ministers committed to developing the concept for decision by their
governments in the first quarter of 2022.
20
- Australia
and France agreed to closer cooperation on military exercises in all
three services,
including exercises La
Perouse,
Peronne
and
Pitch
Black,
and regular information exchanges. They underscored the importance of
enhanced cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and endorsed efforts
underway to develop a regional plan for closer cooperation between
the Australian Defence Force and French Armed Forces in New Caledonia
(FANC) and French Polynesia (FAPF). Ministers discussed expanding
operational-level cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Both sides
undertook to strengthen their support for Pacific Island countries,
in particular through the Western Pacific Naval Symposium and the
Pacific Quadrilateral Dialogue in order to enhance participating
countries' naval capabilities and support maritime surveillance
operations.
21
- Both sides committed to deepen defence industry cooperation and
enhance their capability edge in the region. Ministers underlined the
importance of the Future Submarine program. They agreed to strengthen
military scientific research cooperation through a strategic
partnership between the Defence Science and Technology Group and the
Directorate General for Armaments.
22
- Ministers agreed to deepen space cooperation, including on the
operational management of the space domain and space capabilities,
including space science and technology research. They
agreed to actively work together in international fora to further
promote norms of responsible behaviour in space.
23
- Both countries underscored the importance of building more secure,
reliable and sustainable supply chains in critical minerals,
including rare earths. With this in mind, the Ministers
have established a Critical Mineral Dialogue which would provide a
strong basis to support Australia and France's strategic, low carbon
and economic security ambition.
24
- Ministers recalled the close and
long-standing collaboration of our countries in Antarctica,
including our engagement in the Antarctic Treaty system and in
Antarctic science and research.
25
- Ministers agreed to hold the next
Australia-France 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations in
2022.
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