France cancels UK meeting amid AUKUS row

France has cancelled key talks with the United Kingdom amid an ongoing row sparked an AUKUS security deal between Britain, the US and Australia

The defence minister of France cancelled talks with her British counterpart amid escalating tensions between the two nations following the AUKUS agreement announced last week.

Paris has revealed its disappointment after Australia signed the AUKUS agreement that would see the production and use of nuclear-powered submarines – effectively dumping a major contract with France during that process.

However, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson continues to reaffirm the French Government that they have “nothing to worry about” from the deal.

Those affirmations haven’t been heard by France as Florence Parly’s meeting with UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace in London this week has now been called off.

Lord Ricketts, a former British ambassador to France who was due to co-chair the two days of talks, confirmed the meeting had been “postponed to a later date”.

Australia responds:

Australia earlier on Monday defended its decision to scrap the multi-billion-dollar deal with France, with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison stating that the deal was triggered by a deteriorating relationship in the indo-pacific.