Why A Submarine Deal Has France At Odds With The U.S., U.K. And Australia

https://www.npr.org/2021/09/19/ [login to see] /submarine-deal-us-uk-australia-france
Australia bailed on a submarine contract with France worth $66 billion last week, choosing instead to work with the United States and the United Kingdom. Outraged, France recalled its ambassadors to the U.S. and Australia.

The Australian Navy's six Collins-class submarines are set to reach the end of their service life in 2036. And in 2016, France was chosen over Germany and Japan to help Australia replace its older subs with 12 new diesel-electric submarines. At the time, the Australian government called the Future Submarine project the largest and most complex defense acquisition in the nation's history.

But that was five years ago. And tensions are on the rise in the Indo-Pacific region, which spans from America's west coast to the shores of Australia and India. China's military and political interests in the region have grown, as has its military fleet, which has more than doubled since 2015, making it the largest naval force on the planet. As a result, Australia said it needs a type of submarine France cannot provide.

"The security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region have grown significantly. Military modernization is occurring at an unprecedented rate and capabilities are rapidly advancing and their reach expanding," read an Australian media statement on Thursday. "The technological edge enjoyed by Australia and our partners is narrowing."