It was the first time ever France has recalled its ambassador to the US, according to the French foreign ministry. Earlier Friday, a top French diplomat spoke of a "crisis" in relations with the US. The French diplomat said Friday that Macron received a letter from Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday morning announcing the decision to cancel the submarine deal. "We said that is was for us a very important and critical component in our Indo-Pacific strategy," he said. The French diplomat said Australia never mentioned to France before its will to shift to nuclear-powered submarines, including during a meeting between Macron and Morrison in Paris on June 15.

Source: New Zealand Herald September 17, 2021 20:37 UTC