EU foreign ministers expressed support and solidarity with France during a meeting in New York organized over Australia's withdrawal from a $40 billion submarine deal with Paris after a deal was reached with the US and Britain.
The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Policy and Security, Josep Borelj, in an address to journalists after a meeting held behind closed doors and on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, stated that more cooperation, coordination and less division is needed in order to achieve peace and stability in Indo - the Pacific region, where China is a rising power.
Australia said last week it was canceling an order for conventional submarines from France and would instead work to build at least eight nuclear-powered submarines with American and British technology as a security partnership deal was reached.
"It is certain that we were surprised by this decision of Australia," said Borelj.
The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, emphasized that it is very difficult for him to understand the move of Australia, Britain and the USA.
It is not known whether the dispute will affect the next round of trade talks between the EU and Australia scheduled for October 12.
On September 15, the USA, Great Britain and Australia announced a new partnership in the Indo-Pacific region, but these countries did not consult France, which lost the previously concluded contract on the delivery of submarines to Australia.
At the same time, Canberra announced that it had concluded a new agreement with the US and Britain on the supply of nuclear-powered submarines, which called into question the continuation of Australia's negotiations with the EU on a trade agreement.
Paris responded by recalling its ambassador to the US and canceling this week's meeting of the defense ministers of France and Britain.
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