Paris-Sana
French Defense Minister Florence Parly canceled a meeting with her British counterpart Ben Wallace that was scheduled to take place this week, against the background of Australia canceling a request to purchase submarines from Paris in favor of an agreement signed with the United States and Britain.
Reuters quoted two informed sources that Barley personally took the decision to cancel the bilateral meeting with Ben Wallace, and that the meeting was canceled after Australia canceled the request for submarines from Paris in favor of an agreement with Washington and London.
The cancellation of the multi-billion dollar submarine contract signed in 2016 caused a diplomatic crisis as Paris recalled its ambassadors from Washington and Canberra.
Under the "partnership" dubbed "Ocos," Australia has given up buying 12 French diesel combat submarines, and Canberra will now get technology from London and Washington to build nuclear-powered submarines. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian pulled Australia out of the deal as a "stab in the back".
