White House Says France Was "Made Aware" of AUSUK Security Agreement Ahead of Time

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki says the French government was "made aware" ahead of Wednesday's announcement of a trilateral security partnership agreement between Australia, the U.S. and U.K. She says the administration doesn't see the deal as "a regional divide" and that the U.S. has a "long-standing partnership" with France on many issues. France has expressed anger over the deal that would sell nuclear submarine technology to the Australians, saying it was "blindsided" by the agreement. She also says that the U.S. is not seeking to start a Cold War with China after Beijing expressed its concerns with the agreement. "This partnership is not about one country," Psaki says. close