Submarine crisis: French anger after the leak of an SMS from Emmanuel Macron addressed to the Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison

The entourage of the French president denounced “unacceptable methods”.

Article written by

Posted on 11/02/2021 3:38 PM Updated 11/02/2021 5:16 PM

Reading time: 1 min.

The Elysée sees (again) red in the submarine crisis. The leak, Tuesday, November 2, of an SMS sent by Emmanuel Macron to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on the submarine mega-contract angered the entourage of the French president, who denounced “unacceptable methods”, according to a source close to France Télévisions.

The Australian press reported on an SMS from Emmanuel Macron sent to the Australian two days before the termination of the contract, in mid-September. The French president asks him, in English: “Should I expect good or bad news for our joint ambition on submarines?”

This leak suggests that the French president was aware of a threat to the contract before the official announcement of its termination. “Methods as unacceptable as they are not effective because the SMS shows precisely that we did not know, said a source close to the President of the Republic to France Televisions. Our foreign counterparts must also question the confidence in give to an executive who discloses private trade. “

The leak could be an Australian response to the statement by the French president on Sunday, who said he “knew” that Scott Morrison had lied to him while hiding his intention to break this contract of 55 billion euros, under the pretext of a change in strategy in favor of nuclear-powered submarines.

To share :

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share by mail Share the link