Thread by @admcollingwood

Those who think that the AUKUS Security/Nuclear sub deal has left France hard done by -- yes, it has. But few nations play quite as tough as France on arms deals or pursuing its interests diplomatically. This has affected Britain historically and recently...(1/n)

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From my memory:

--Kept Britain out of the EU twice (DeGaulle) which laid the foundation for us to join on horrible terms.

--Withdrew from the Eurofighter programme (which eventually produced the Typhoon) to pursue its own version (which eventually became the Rafael) and...(2/n)

...compete directly with us on the export market (and successfully, too)

--Refused, despite being a 'security partner', to give us access to the Galileo GPS system, when we had contributed hugely.

--Threatened to cut off our electricity several times during brexit...(3/n)

...negotiations if we didn't acquiesce to their wishes.

--Takes money, but still refuses to cut off the flow of cross-channel migrants, because it serves as a useful pressure valve and means to secure UK financial support for the problem.

--Gets serious military support from...

...the UK for the Mali operations, which are entirely for French strategic aims, and which France couldn't do without us (despite playing the hardest of hardballs on brexit)

France is a great country. Wonderful. But I cannot help thinking the AUKUS sobbing is crocodile tears.