Macron recalls ambassadors

France recalled its ambassadors to the U.S. and Australia on Friday, shortly after Australia scrapped a big French conventional submarine purchase in favor of nuclear subs built with U.S. technology.

Foreign Minister JeanYves Le Drian said in a written statement that the French decision, on request from President Emmanuel Macron, “is justified by the exceptional seriousness of the announcements” made by Australia and the United States.

He said Wednesday’s announcement of Australia’s submarine deal with the U.S. is “unacceptable behavior between allies and partners.”

Earlier Friday, a top French diplomat spoke of a “crisis” in relations with the U.S. The diplomat, who spoke to the Associated Press anonymously, said that for Paris “this is a strategic question concerning the very nature of the relationship between Europe and the United States about the Indo-Pacific strategy.”

France has pushed for several years for a European strategy for boosting economic, political and defense ties in the region stretching from India and China to Japan and New Zealand.

Le Drian on Thursday expressed “total incomprehension” at the move.

“It was really a stab in the back. We built a relationship of trust with Australia, and this trust was betrayed,” he said.