Australia submarine decision 'regrettable': France

This is a decision contrary to the letter and the spirit of the cooperation that prevailed between France and Australia, a statement said

French President Emmanuel Macron. Credit: AFP Photo

Australia's decision to build nuclear-powered submarines in a new partnership with the United States and Britain rather than buy them from a French firm was "regrettable", the French government said Thursday.

"This is a decision contrary to the letter and the spirit of the cooperation that prevailed between France and Australia," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

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"The American choice, which leads to the removal of an ally and a European partner like France from a longstanding partnership with Australia, at a time when we are facing unprecedented challenges in the Indo-Pacific region... marks a lack of consistency that France cannot but note and regret," it added.