France has canceled planned defense talks with the United Kingdom this week as tensions rise over a new security pact signed between the UK, the United States, and Australia.
French Defense Minister Florence Parly was scheduled to meet with UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace in London for discussions aimed at strengthening military ties post-Brexit. However, the meeting has been called off amid a diplomatic rift caused by the recent AUKUS agreement.
The AUKUS pact, announced last week, involves a collaboration between Australia, the UK, and the U.S. to build nuclear-powered submarines for Australia. This deal effectively nullifies a previous $40 billion contract Australia had with France for conventional submarines, leading to outrage in Paris.
French President Emmanuel Macron responded by recalling France’s ambassadors from Washington and Canberra—a move unprecedented in the history of French-American relations. French officials expressed that they were blindsided by the announcement, receiving notification only hours before the public reveal.
An unnamed French presidency official stated that there was no indication of the contract’s cancellation when President Macron met with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in June. The official noted that France had begun to question Australia’s commitment to the deal earlier in the summer.
In response to the escalating tensions, UK official Peter Ricketts, who was set to chair the now-canceled defense talks, confirmed the postponement to a later date. Meanwhile, UK Foreign Office Minister James Cleverly sought to downplay the situation, stating that such disputes are part of the “ups and downs” of international relations and expressing confidence that the UK’s relationship with France would endure.
European Union foreign ministers are set to discuss the issue on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The situation highlights the complexities of strategic alliances in the Indo-Pacific region and raises questions about transatlantic cooperation.
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France withdraws from UK defense talks over Australia submarines row
cgtn.com
