Franco-British defence summit cancelled amid AUKUS dispute

A defence summit due to take place between French and British ministers this week has been cancelled in protest over the loss of a £48 billion submarine contract with Australia and the new nuclear technology agreement between Australia, the UK and US.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and his French counterpart Florence Parly had been due to hold a bilateral meeting in London and to address the two-day Franco-British Council, now the latest casualties of the diplomatic row. Without the event going ahead, it is understood that Parly’s planned trip to London is deemed to have become redundant.

Australia has ditched a contract for new diesel submarines with a French contractor to switch to the nuclear-powered alternative after six months of secret negotiations with the UK and US.

In recent days, France recalled its ambassadors to the US and Australia, straining relationships to a new level. Many believe that the cancellation of the defence summit demonstrates that there will also be repercussions for the UK, which could yet deepen as the row continues.

The cancelled summit coincides with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and new Foreign Secretary Liz Truss visiting the US to visit the UN general assembly.