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It’s not so much the cancellation of the contract as how it was done instead.

AUKUS basically blindsided France, didn’t give them any warning or a chance to diplomatically save face. It was like spitting in their face.

Why bother having a defence meeting with the UK if they’ll turn around tomorrow and spit in France’s face again by not telling them something?

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> Why bother having a defence meeting with the UK if they’ll turn around tomorrow and spit in France’s face again by not telling them something?

It is not the UK's responsibility to inform France of a status change in their contract with Australia. In fact the UK has a duty to stay out of it as they are not parties to the contract- it is up to Australia to inform France.

France has a right to be peeved, but not at the UK or US.

I do not think anyone is arguing that the UK has some kind of legal obligation to inform France. Alas, alliance and more broadly international politics go beyond minutiae of contracts.

It didn't have any obligation - legal, moral or otherwise. In fact it had an obligation not to interfere or surprise Australia by communicating things. The responsibility was 100% on Australia.

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