New security pact, France withdraws ambassadors from US and Australia.

France has said it will withdraw its ambassadors to the United States and Australia for consultations in protest of an agreement that includes the United Kingdom.

The foreign ministry said the "extraordinary decision" was justified by the seriousness of the pact. As part of the deal known as Aukus, Australia will be given the technology to build nuclear-powered submarines. The deal, announced Wednesday, destroyed a multibillion-dollar deal France had signed with Australia. The French foreign minister had previously described the pact as a "blow to the back".