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France Recalls Ambassadors to US, Australia Over Security Pact

On Friday, France said it would immediately recall its diplomatic staff in Australia and the United States for consultations in response to the AUKUS security pact, which includes the two nations and the United Kingdom.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the “exceptional decision” to recall French ambassadors was justified by the “gravity of the announcements on September 15 by Australia and the United States.”

The AUKUS deal was announced by US president Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison on Wednesday. It will see the United States and the United Kingdom equip Australia with technology to build nuclear-powered submarines.

It has been seen as an effort to weaken Beijing’s influence in the South China Sea, which has caused disputes and raised tensions in the region over the past years. On Thursday, the Chinese government criticized the move, saying it was part of a “Cold War” mentality.

But France also rejected the three countries’ alliance, as it ended a French-designed submarine deal, valued at $40 billion.

In 2016, Australia reached an agreement with the partly-state-run France’s Naval Group to build 12 conventionally-powered submarines based on the nuclear-powered Barracuda submarines.

The French government, which described AUKUS deal as a “stab in the back,” also complained about being left out of the security agreement. It was revealed that French authorities were informed of the pact a few hours before the leaders made the announcement public.

On Friday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the ambassadors would be recalled from the three allied countries following President Macron’s request.

Le Drian stated that the AUKUS agreement “constitutes[s] unacceptable behavior 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.”

After France announced that it would recall its diplomatic personnel from the United States and Australia, a White House official said the Biden administration regretted the French government’s move.

US officials will meet with French officials in the coming days to resolve their differences, the White House spokesman added, reiterating that France was a “vital ally.”

Moreover, while speaking in Washington, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said she understood the French government’s “disappointment.”

Ms. Payne stated she expected to work with the North American nation to ensure that US authorities understood “the value we place on the bilateral relationship.”

Meanwhile, French diplomats called off an event in Washington to celebrate ties between the two countries, scheduled for Friday.