CANBERRA/SYDNEY – On Wednesday Jean-Pierre Thebault, France’s ambassador in Australia said that Australia acted with deceit by abruptly cancelling a multibillion dollar agreement with Paris to create a fleet submarines.

Thebault stated that the deceit was deliberate to media outlets in Canberra, on Wednesday.

“And since there was much more to it than providing submarines. It was a joint agreement on sovereignty sealed with high-class data transmission. Therefore, it was unfairly handled.”

Australia cancelled an agreement with France’s Naval Group in September and instead chose to construct at least twelve nuclear-powered submarines as part of a partnership with the United States.

AUKUS is a new alliance that will allow Australia to access nuclear-powered submarines.

France recalled its Ambassadors to Australia and the United States following this decision. The speech Wednesday by Thebault, which was delivered in Canberra last month is his first public statement on bilateral relations.

Thebault explained that “these are not things which can be done between partners” – and perhaps even more between friends.

On Sunday, the French President Emmanuel Macron said that Scott Morrison, Australia’s Prime Minister had lied about Canberra’s intentions to him.

Morrison denied making the claims. He claimed that he explained previously to Macron how conventional submarines wouldn’t meet Australia’s requirements.

Last week, Macron and Morrison spoke before Macron publicly asked for a handshake with the Australian leader at the G20 meeting.

Joe Biden of the United States stated Friday that the administration of the new pact has been slow. Biden also claimed that France was informed of the cancelation of the contract prior to the new deal being announced.