Submarine crisis: Xavier Bertrand pleads for an extraordinary NATO summit
By Le Figaro with AFPPosted 7 hours ago, updated7 hours ago
The "contract of the century" provided for the construction of twelve attack submarines by the European leader in naval defense.
AFP PHOTO / DCNS
The presidential candidate calls into question France's place in NATO's integrated command and pleads for a renewed dialogue with Russia.
Xavier Bertrand , ex-LR and presidential candidate, called Sunday, September 19 for " an extraordinary NATO summit " after the termination of a mega-contract for French submarines by Australia , and evoked a withdrawal of France from the alliance command.
READ ALSO Submarine crisis: Xavier Bertrand pleads for an extraordinary NATO summit
At this summit, we must “ ask the Americans this question of confidence: do you respect us, where is the alliance going? ", He told the RTL / LCI / Le Figaro Grand Jury. " The question is to know if, for the Americans, we also count, or if we are in the second division ", explained the president of Hauts-de-France, and " if the answer does not satisfy us, I wish to put on the table the question of the participation of France in the integrated command of NATO ”.
Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian ruled on Saturday that the crisis would weigh heavily on the definition of NATO's new strategic concept , without however evoking an exit from the Atlantic alliance.
Qualifying as “ treason ” the breach of the contract of submarines, Xavier Bertrand estimates that “ France does not have vocation to be treated like a servant of the Americans ” for whom “ it is always “ America First ””. " It is time that we have the same vision for France " and " nothing prevents having discussions with China, with India ", he said, deeming " urgent to renew a political dialogue high level with President Putin ”and“ with our European friends ”, which“ will also lead to a clarification of Germany ”. According to him, it is also necessary "to see if there is no cooperation that we can now call into question (...) especially in the space field ”.
Read more below:
Crise des sous-marins : Xavier Bertrand plaide pour un sommet extraordinaire de l'Otan
Le candidat à l'élection présidentielle remet en cause la place de la France dans le commandement intégré de l'OTAN et plaide pour un dialogue renouvelé avec la Russie.
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