"Don't Need To Prove Affinity" For France: Australia Amid Submarine Row
NDTV
France is angry at Australia's decision to abruptly cancel a multi-billion-dollar submarine contract negotiated over years.
Australia has already proven its affection for France through the sacrifice of Aussie soldiers during World War I and II, the country's deputy prime minister claimed Monday, stoking a row over a major submarine contract.
Following French fury at Canberra's decision to abruptly cancel a multi-billion-dollar submarine contract negotiated over years, Barnaby Joyce weighed in.
"Australia doesn't need to prove their affinity and their affection and their resolute desire to look after the liberty and the freedom and the equality of France," said Joyce, who is currently acting prime minister while Scott Morrison visits Washington.
"We have tens of thousands of Australians who have either died on French soil or died protecting French soil from the countries that surround them, in both the First World War and the Second World War."
