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Boris Johnson
Photo: LEON NEAL / AFP
Since Australia canceled a submarine agreement with France, the government in Paris has been furious (read more here).
Even the ambassadors from Canberra and Washington have been called back for deliberations.
The United States and Great Britain are now benefiting from the Australians' new deal.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tried on Wednesday to bring the outraged French to see with Anglo-French puns.
"It's time for some of our closest friends in the world to pull themselves together," Johnson told British journalists in Washington.
He changed the British phrase "get a grip" (pull yourself together) to "prenez un grip".
"Donnez-moi un break" (Now take a break), demanded Johnson in another English-French word creation.
The new alliance between the USA, Great Britain and Australia is a "great step forward for global security," Johnson told Sky News.
It is not an insult to the European neighbors, rather "three like-minded allies are moving together to forge a new partnership and share technology."
as / AFP