French Foreign Minister says Australia 'cheated' France in Indonesia

A senior French government minister has taken another swipe at Australia and the AUKUS agreement, this time in a talk in Indonesia.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian was speaking at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies when he was asked about the tripartite agreement between Australia, the US and the UK.

The deal will see Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines, at the cost of tearing up a $90 billion deal with the French Naval Group.

LIVE UPDATES: Lambie 'never believed' PM was a leader

Mr Le Drian was unsparing in his response, saying France felt "cheated".

"We thought we had a good industrial partnership, it was ongoing, and I was the one who signed it," he said.

"And it came to an end in a second, out of the blue. This is not correct."

READ MORE: Byron Bay hostel in lockdown over COVID-19 case

He said while Australia was not part of the NATO alliance as the US and UK were, "historically", France and Australia had been allies.

"And (Australia) acted behind our back on military, on strategic issues," he said.

"They did not tell us about it, and we found out all about it by listening to a press conference."

READ MORE: Three convicted over US shooting of Black jogger

Mr Le Drian said the situation between France and Australia was a "trust crisis" - which he contrasted starkly with the US.

US President Joe Biden had previously admitted to French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that Australia's handling of the issue had been clumsy.

Mr Le Drian said France had returned to a position of trust with the US, after it "provided reasons" and made commitments to European defence and to a Pacific presence.

READ MORE: At least 31 migrants die in English Channel off Calais

But he remained critical of the AUKUS alliance, saying it pressed a "sense of confrontation" with China.

"Beyond the severance here, there is this sense of posturing, which is not ours," he said.

"Not because we are unaware of a very serious increase of Chinese military capacities, but because I believe the best way to respond to this risk and threats, is to give the world an alternative model."

Mr Le Drian said France favoured a multi-lateral approach.

"When you listen to China, they are in favour of multilateralism - but it is very much a one-way form of multilateralism," he said.