Oceania

French Defence Minister Florence Parly accused the United States of attempting to instigate confrontation with China, amid the growing tension over a security deal between Canberra and Washington.

Australia’s new defense treaty with the US and UK will feature muscular defenses, courtesy of US deployment of military aircraft in addition to the agreed nuclear-powered submarines, officials stated after a meeting in Washington.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has accused US President Joe Biden of making an "unpredictable decision" like former US President Donald Trump "used to do" after he scrapped a $40 billion submarine defense deal that the European nation had signed with Australia.

China has slammed a new US military alliance with Australia and Britain, under which Canberra will acquire nuclear submarine technology, as an "extremely irresponsible" threat to regional stability.