Briefly

FRANCE

Ally lambasted after 'stab in back' on subs

France accused US President Joe Biden on Thursday of stabbing it in the back and acting like his predecessor Donald Trump after Paris was pushed aside from a historic defense export contract to supply Australia with submarines. The United States, the United Kingdom and Australia announced they would establish a security partnership for the Indo-Pacific that will help Australia acquire US nuclear-powered submarines and scrap the $40 billion deal for French-designed submarines. "This brutal, unilateral and unpredictable decision reminds me a lot of what Mr Trump used to do," Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told franceinfo radio. "I am angry and bitter. This isn't done between allies."

SWITZERLAND

US 'crosses moral line' in bashing others

The Chinese Mission to the United Nations in Geneva on Thursday criticized an anti-China exhibition hosted by the US Mission together with a violent terrorist and separatist organization. By doing so, the Chinese Mission said, the United States has crossed a rudimentary moral line in bashing others. "The US, in an attempt to retard China's development, doesn't even hesitate to collude with the violent terrorist and separatist organization 'World Uyghur Congress' in holding a so-called 'exhibition', trying to reap benefits from spreading disinformation about China," a spokesperson for the Chinese Mission said in a statement. "Nonetheless, the contemptible act it resorted to only highlights its role as a 'conspirator'." The statement accused the US of using human rights as a political tool to serve its own political interests.

THE NETHERLANDS

Foreign minister resigns over Afghan evacuation

Dutch Foreign Minister Sigrid Kaag resigned on Thursday after parliament formally condemned her handling of the Afghanistan evacuation crisis. Lawmakers approved a motion criticizing the government for failing to evacuate some Afghans, and for missing signs of an imminent Taliban takeover. Kaag's resignation came a day after Britain's Dominic Raab was demoted from his position as foreign secretary over the way he dealt with the situation in Afghanistan. Dutch Defense Minister Ank Bijleveld however refused to resign despite also being hit with a censure motion by parliament.

Agencies - Xinhua