France cancels missile collaboration meeting with UK amid AUKUS submarine row

Florence Parly, the armed forces minister, had been due to travel to Britain to meet with Defence Secretary Ben Wallace under the framework of a long-standing defence and security treaty.

France has cancelled a high-level meeting with the UK this week that was meant to discuss the renewal of a collaboration on missiles in a worsening of a row over submarines.

Florence Parly, the armed forces minister, had been due to travel to Britain to meet with Defence Secretary Ben Wallace under the framework of a long-standing defence and security treaty.

A French source said: “The Franco-British Council scheduled for September 22 and 23 in London will not be held on these dates, the organisers having considered the context did not allow it. Mrs Parly’s displacement will not take place given the current context.”