French envoy to Australia says ‘deceitful’ submarines deal raises risks

The ambassador said in Paris, prior to returning to Canberra: 'The way you treat your allies does resonate in the region.'

French ambassador to Australia Jean-Pierre Thebault (AP)

France’s ambassador to Australia says officials in that country lied to his face and raised the risk of confrontation in Asia by crafting a secret submarine deal with the US and UK that undermined trust in democratic alliances.

Jean-Pierre Thebault said France is determined to protect its interests in the Indo-Pacific region, and to put “muscle” into Europe’s geopolitical strategy with regards to an increasingly assertive China.