France calls off meeting with UK over submarine dispute

France has canceled a defense meeting with the UK planned for this week because of a dispute with Australia, after the latter ditched the submarine contract with France for an alternative one with the US and UK.

The French Armed Force Minister, Florence Parly, personally took the decision to call off the meeting with British Defense Secretary, Ben Wallace, according to Reuters.

Australia had scrapped the 2016 multi-billion-dollar contract with France to manufacture a conventional fleet of submarines, after Canberra decided to form an alliance with the US and UK, which includes the development of nuclear-powered submarines.

France felt “betrayed” by the sudden abandonment of the contract and called it a “stab in the back.”

This diplomatic crisis also lead France into recalling its ambassadors from Washington and Canberra.

President Joe Biden and French President, Emmanuel Macron are set to hold a telephonic conversation in the coming days to resolve this dispute, as per the French government spokesperson.