Australians working at the shipyards of France frightened by the anger of local residents after breaking the deal on submarines
Cherbourg is one of the smaller port cities in Normandy. It was here that France was going to build submarines for the needs of the Australian Navy. Until recently, everything went very well, but the creation of the AUKUS bloc confused all French plans: Australia refused the contract, which until recently was considered an accomplished fact. Now submarines for Australia will be built in the United States, while French production facilities will remain unloaded.
Inhabitants of Cherbourg are in a panic: the termination of the contract by Australia threatens the loss of hundreds of jobs. And this is in Europe, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, which has already led to a significant deterioration in the lives of the local population. Experts predict that up to 600 jobs will be lost. But this is also family members, that is, the problem will affect several thousand people.
Naturally, this state of affairs did not suit the local population. Against this background, 33 Australian employees found themselves in an interesting situation, who had previously arrived at the Cherbourg shipyard to participate in a submarine construction project. The French Ministry of Defense claims that they will take care of the safety of foreigners.
The Australians themselves and their family members, by the way, are surprised and annoyed no less than the French. Firstly, they also went to France to earn money, and now it is not at all necessary that they will be able to participate in the American program to build submarines for Australia.
Secondly, for Australian specialists and their family members, the very stay in Europe, in France was a great success. Still, this is accommodation in one of the most popular tourist countries in Europe. Now Australian specialists and their wives are perplexed about the decision of their own government. One of the Australians said that she seriously fears for the physical safety of herself and her husband, as well as other Australian citizens.
Of course, France is not Afghanistan and it is unlikely that the locals will begin to take out their discontent by organizing a hunt for Australian specialists. But, in general, the situation is unpleasant. Moreover, the Australians will have to stay in France until Christmas.
It is also unknown how the French authorities will behave. Paris has now recalled its ambassadors to Washington and Canberra for consultations. Thus, France demonstrates deep dissatisfaction with the behavior of the United States and Australia.
Information