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In reply to the discussion: France recalls its ambassador to the US in protest of Biden's submarine deal with Australia [View all]artemisia1
(756 posts)I have mixed feelings on this one. We probably should have given the professional courtesy notice, and just because President Biden's Administration has a "D" for party affiliation doesn't mean they can't make mistakes.
On the other hand, this smells, imho, of SOUR GRAPES from the French side. The truth is that their defence industry has fallen behind in terms of competitiveness. They lost the contract because they blew it. The heady days of the early-2000's when France had the stunningly new and advanced Dassault Rafale 4+ generation fighter as well as top-of-the line frigates and subs is now over. They need to retool to become super competitive again, imho.
That being said, this is a serious quarrel that could have been prevented with a little bit better diplomacy on our part. At least Pres. Biden isn't malicious like former Pres. Trump is. That doesn't mean he can't make a mistake, though, and TRUE respect for him and his office includes potential criticism of his decisions.