Daily US Times: France has said it is recalling its ambassadors in Australia and the US for consultations, in protest at a security pact, known as Aukus, which also includes the UK.
The foreign minister of Frances said the “exceptional decision” was justified by the situation’s “exceptional gravity”.
The alliance will see Australia being given the technology to build nuclear-powered submarines.
The security partnership angered France as it scuppered a multibillion-dollar deal it had signed with Australia.
The pact is widely seen as an effort to counter China’s influence in the contested South China Sea. The deal was announced on Wednesday by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
France was notified of the security pact only hours before the public announcement was made.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a statement late on Friday that the ambassadors were being recalled at the request of President Emmanuel Macron. The French foreign minister had described the pact as a “stab in back”.
Mr Le Drian said: The deal “constitute[s] unacceptable behaviour between allies and partners whose consequences directly affect the vision we have of our alliances, of our partnerships and of the importance of the Indo-Pacific for Europe,”
A White House official said President Joe Biden’s administration regretted the move and would be engaged with France in the coming days to resolve their differences.
A recall of ambassadors is highly unusual between allies.
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