Canberra, Australia (AP) —France knew that France had “deep and serious concerns” that the submarine fleet under construction did not meet Australia’s needs, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. Said on Sunday after the cancellation caused a diplomatic crisis.

France has accused Australia of concealing its intention to cancel the A $ 90 billion ($ 66 billion) contract for a majority of France’s state-owned naval groups to build 12 conventional diesel electric submarines.

President Joe Biden last week unveiled a new alliance to send an Australian fleet of at least eight nuclear submarines, including Australia and the United Kingdom.

Morrison blamed the switch to the deteriorating strategic environment of the Indo-Pacific. He makes no particular mention of China’s large-scale military buildup, which has been accelerating in recent years.

“The capabilities that attack-class submarines were trying to provide were not necessary for Australia to protect the interests of our sovereignty,” Morrison said.

“They would have had every reason to know that the capabilities provided by attack-class submarines have deep and serious concerns that they do not meet our strategic interests. We are our strategic He made it very clear that he would make decisions based on his interests. Strategic national interests, “he said, referring to the French government.

France responded to the cancellation of the deal, which Morrison said would cost his government at least A $ 2.4 billion ($ 1.7 billion) by recalling ambassadors from Australia and the United States.

France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian blamed what he called “duplication, contempt, lies” over the sudden termination of the deal on Saturday, saying France is now questioning the strength of the alliance. Stated.

China has accused it of being irresponsible for sharing such US and British nuclear technology.

France won the contract in 2016 with offers from Germany and Japan. The Short Fin Barracuda was designed for a nuclear submarine powered by surface diesel and underwater batteries.

Japan was particularly disappointed because then Prime Minister Tony Abbott had promised a contract with a close defense ally before being expelled by his party in 2015.

The government discussed media coverage of the uproar among partners of the French submarine project and the delay in initial delivery in 2027.

There was concern that a gap in defense capabilities that the aging Australian Collins-class submarine could not fill was emerging.

Australia’s first nuclear submarine is not scheduled to be delivered until near 2040.

Defense Minister Peter Dutton said his government was ready to lease a nuclear submarine from the United States while the Australian fleet was being built.

Foreign Ministers Dutton and Marise Payne are in the United States for their annual meeting with their US counterparts and their first meeting with the Biden administration.

Morrison will fly to the United States on Monday to meet with the leaders of India and Japan, who make up Biden and the Quad Security Forum.