France recalls ambassadors over AUKUS pact

In September 2021, the announcement of the AUKUS security pact, formed between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, led to a significant deterioration in French-U.S. relations. The pact was primarily aimed at countering China's influence in the Indo-Pacific region and included a provision for the U.S. to supply nuclear-powered submarines to Australia. This development resulted in the cancellation of a prior agreement between Australia and France, which involved the sale of conventionally powered submarines. The French government expressed strong discontent over this decision, viewing it as a breach of trust and a failure of diplomatic communication. In response to the perceived slight, France took the unprecedented step of recalling its ambassadors from both Australia and the United States for consultations, marking a notable moment in diplomatic history as it was the first time France had withdrawn its ambassador from the U.S. This action underscored the seriousness of the diplomatic rift and highlighted the importance of maintaining open lines of communication among allies.