The AUKUS (nuclear submarine) deal by Femi Mimiko, mni
The AUKUS (nuclear submarine) deal.
by
Femi Mimiko, mni
France’s recall of its US Ambassador “for consultation,” consequent upon the AUKUS deal, is epochal! The deal is, by every yardstick of measurement, a flawed diplomatic, and indeed strategic move, on the part of the Biden Administration. It amounts to a fundamental shift in policy direction, approximating an unmistakable disregard of the interest of Paris – a key US ally, dominant player in the EU, and consequential NATO member. The nuclear deal promises to foul up the tenor of the entire Trans-Atlantic relations, including that between post-Brexit EU and the US for a long time to come. It can also be expected to input greater tension into the Indo-Pacific (South China Sea) region – and in particular, US relations with a resurgent China. As well, US/Western opposition to Iran’s nuclear program will, going forward, sound hollower than it had ever been. The historical tension between the Anglophone (note that the deal makers – US, UK and Australia – are united in the usage of the English language) and the Francophone cultural outlook – represented by France – may also now find fresh, albeit negative vitality. The deal shouldn’t have been consummated without an eye on French sensibilities – in the minimum; and its wider global dimensions generally.
@FemiMimiko
femi.mimiko@gmail.com
Sept. 18, 2021
