SEETHING French officials warned efforts to stop migrant crossings could be scuppered after a subs deal with Australia was sunk.
Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian accused Australia of betrayal for axing a ￡65billon contract in favour of a deal with the UK and US.
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Australia this week signed a deal with the UK and US to help build submarines to combat Chinese aggression - which France sees as an act of betrayal Credit: EPA
The Aussies will now get nuclear-powered submarines instead of the 12 conventionally powered diesel-electric French subs under the historic AUKUS agreement reached by Boris Johnson, US president Joe Biden and Australian PM Scott Morrison earlier this week.
Mr Le Drian said his country had been “stabbed in the back” by Australia’s decision. Calais MP Pierre-Henri Dumont said the secret pact amounted to a “breach of trust”.
He said: “This goes with (Home Secretary) Priti Patel saying we have not done enough, that the French police have been helping migrants cross the Channel.”
He said it was now “harder” for the UK and France to “speak a common language”.
Mr Johnson insisted Britain’s relationship with France was “rock solid”.
His spokesman said: “With regards to the ongoing issues in the Channel, we want to work with our French counterparts — and we will continue to do so.”
Ms Patel was at Dover yesterday to meet Border Force officials and reaffirm the UK’s commitment to target people-smugglers.
May's war warning
BRITAIN’S nuclear-powered sub deal with Oz could result in war with China, ex-PM Theresa May warned yesterday.
She asked Boris Johnson what the “implications of this pact” would be if China tried to invade Taiwan.
The PM replied: “The UK remains determined to defend international law and that is the strong advice we would give to the government in Beijing.”
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