Relations Between UK and France Continue to Worsen Over Fishing Rights
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Relations worsen between Britain France over fishing rights, following a major setback after the announcement of the AUKUS alliance.
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France considers British decisions 'unacceptable' on post-Brexit fishing (Reuters)
On Wednesday, France warned of retaliation in Brussels against the United Kingdom and the self-governing British Crown dependency of Jersey island over their refusal of many post-Brexit fishing licenses. French trawlermen threatened fresh protests and even a blockade on cross-Channel exports.
This morning, the self-governing British Crown dependency of Jersey issued 64 full and 31 temporary fishing licenses but refused another 75 applications.
On Tuesday, London granted 12 additional permits in its waters, within limits ranging between 6 and 12 nautical miles from its coast.
Gabriel Attal, the French government spokesperson announced that the decisions were "totally unacceptable and inadmissible" and "contravene the agreement that was signed in the framework of Brexit", threatening retaliation via Brussels.
Tumultuous protests by French trawlers over fishing rights in Jersey erupted earlier this year and even threatened to turn into a full-blown naval incident.
AUKUS marks a turning point for French-British relations
Relations between France and Britain were strained in September mid-month, after the United States, Britain, and Australia signed a new security treaty, the AUKUS treaty, which aims to support their security and defense interests.
One of the consequences of this agreement was Australia's cancellation of a submarine deal it had concluded with Naval Group, a French firm, in exchange that the United States would supply the technology to build nuclear propulsion subs. France described the action as a "stab in the back."
The United Kingdom sent two warships to the island of Jersey in May in a practice described as precautionary, due to the escalation of tensions with France on fishing rights.
