Aukus: France pulls out of UK defence talks amid row

PARIS, 20 September 2021, (TON): France's defence minister has cancelled talks with her UK counterpart as the row continues over a new security deal between Britain, the US and Australia.

Paris is angry after Australia signed the Aukus pact to build nuclear-powered submarines, pulling out of a major contract with France in the process.

UK PM Boris Johnson said “France had nothing to worry about from the deal.”

But Florence Parly's meeting with UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace in London this week has been called off.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Wallace said there had been "absolutely no intent.... to slight, upset or drive a wedge between us and France".

He added "Britain and France on many issues are joined at the hip.”

Lord Ricketts, a former British ambassador to France who was due to co-chair the two days of talks, confirmed the meeting between Mr Wallace and Ms Parly had been "postponed to a later date".

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