France recalls ambassadors to US and Australia after Aukus pact

First time France has recalled a US ambassador in alliance dating back to American revolution

France has recalled its ambassadors to the the US and Australia for consultations sparked by the exceptional seriousness" of Canberra's surprise decision to cancel an order for French-built submarines and its security pact with Washington and London.

The French foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, said the order to bring the ambassadors back to Paris immediately" was made at the request of the French president, Emmanuel Macron.