“The key to understanding the splits within the western global order represented by the new AUKUS Alliance between the U.S., Australia, and the U.K. is the following:  the EU, Friedman has made ruthlessly clear, is not viewed by the US security élite as a serious global player – or really as much more than one ‘punter’, amongst others, buying at the US weapons supermarket. The submarine contract with Australia however, was a centerpiece to Paris’s strategy for European ‘strategic autonomy’.”

This is a long analysis.  Recommended.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/luongo-there-no-getting-europes-elevator-hell