September 21, 2021: -The United States and the United Kingdom look to ease tensions with France after a submarine deal with Australia that Paris described as a “stab in the back.”

On Sunday, U.S. President Joe Biden requested a call with French President Emmanuel Macron. On Monday, the French presidency spokesperson said that the call will happen in the coming days and that Macron wishes to get some “clarifications.”

Meanwhile, on Monday, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he is “very proud” of his country’s relationship with France and that “our love for France is ineradicable.”

Last week, it came after news that Australia was canceling a submarine deal with France and instead bought new technology from the United States in cooperation with the U.K.

The new arrangement will see Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarine rather than conventional ones. Some experts describe it as an attempt by the U.S to step up its position against China in the Indo-Pacific region.

Beijing has heavily criticized the deal between the U.S., the U.K., and Australia, called AUKUS, calling it “extremely irresponsible.”

France has not held back following news of the deal and recalled its ambassadors from the U.S. and Australia.

“There has been a lie; there is duplicity, there has been a major breach of trust, there has been contempt. So, it is not OK between us, and it’s not OK at all. It means there is a crisis,” Jean Yves Le Drian, the French minister for foreign affairs, said on Saturday to Info France 2.

“We recalled our ambassadors to try to understand and are showing these former partner countries our deep discontent. But once they are here, we will have the occasion to reevaluate our position to defend to the best extent our interests both in Australia and United States,” the minister added.

Le Drian said that, so far, there isn’t a date to send the two ambassadors back. France has also canceled the meeting scheduled for this week between Paris and London.

On Monday, a spokesperson for the French presidency said the original contract between Paris and Canberra including “compensations” but did not disclose any values. When Australia signed the deal with France in 2016, the cost of the submarines has totaled $40 billion, according to Reuters.

The European Commission, the executive arm of the E.U., announced Monday that the 27 foreign affairs ministers would discuss Australia’s change of heart for ongoing trade negotiations between the bloc and Canberra.