[jeeeb]

I do think it could have been handled in a more diplomatic fashion, but there was never going to be a nice way to break the news. Further I think if the Naval Group had been anywhere close to delivering on time and on budget then it would have been a fundamentally different discussion. France would have been at the table and part of the deal.

I think the big problem for France now is how to protect the reputation of the Naval Group. If this is seen as a failure to deliver by the Naval Group then future export opportunities may be threatened. So instead France is aiming to portray as a grand betrayal by Australia and the US.

[siderax]

It is somewhat a betrayal. Secret negotiation is a way for US and Australia of telling to France (after 30 years of collaboration in Pacific) "We don't want to work on strategic stuff with France anymore".