France accuses Britain of hiding in ‘American lap’ in submarine row

Paris reacted with fury after the Australians announced that as a result of the agreement, they were pulling out of a €35bn deal for the French to supply them with a new fleet of submarines

A Royal Navy Astute class submarine (LPhot Pepe Hogan/MoD/PA)

Sat, 18 Sep, 2021 - 20:15

Gavin Cordon, PA Whitehall Editor

A French minister has accused Britain of returning to the “American lap” in the increasingly bitter diplomatic row over the UK’s new defence pact with the US and Australia.

Paris reacted with fury after the Australians announced that as a result of the agreement, they were pulling out of a £30bn (€35bn) deal for the French to supply them with a new fleet of submarines.