<p>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday called France a "vital partner" in Asia after Paris was infuriated by a US-UK pact with Australia that scuppered a major French submarine deal.</p>.<p>"I want to emphasize that there is no regional divide separating the interests of our Atlantic and our Pacific partners," Blinken told reporters.</p>.<p>"We want to find every opportunity to deepen our transatlantic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and around the world," Blinken said.</p>.<p>"France, in particular, is a vital partner on this."</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/with-australia-uk-deal-joe-biden-again-shows-china-is-paramount-priority-1031204.html" target="_blank">With Australia-UK deal, Joe Biden again shows China is paramount priority</a></strong></p>.<p>The United States, Britain and Australia announced a new alliance under which Canberra will be the second country to obtain nuclear submarines with US technology.</p>.<p>Australia said it was scrapping a multibillion-dollar deal for conventional submarines from France after concerns over cost overruns.</p>.<p>Blinken said the United States stood solidly behind Australia, which has faced growing pressure from China.</p>.<p>"Beijing has seen over the past months that Australia will not back down and the threats of economic retaliation and pressure simply will not work," Blinken said.</p>.<p>"The United States will not leave Australia alone on the field or, better yet, on the pitch," he said, using sporting metaphors.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest videos from <i data-stringify-type="italic">DH</i>:</strong></p>
<p>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday called France a "vital partner" in Asia after Paris was infuriated by a US-UK pact with Australia that scuppered a major French submarine deal.</p>.<p>"I want to emphasize that there is no regional divide separating the interests of our Atlantic and our Pacific partners," Blinken told reporters.</p>.<p>"We want to find every opportunity to deepen our transatlantic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and around the world," Blinken said.</p>.<p>"France, in particular, is a vital partner on this."</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/with-australia-uk-deal-joe-biden-again-shows-china-is-paramount-priority-1031204.html" target="_blank">With Australia-UK deal, Joe Biden again shows China is paramount priority</a></strong></p>.<p>The United States, Britain and Australia announced a new alliance under which Canberra will be the second country to obtain nuclear submarines with US technology.</p>.<p>Australia said it was scrapping a multibillion-dollar deal for conventional submarines from France after concerns over cost overruns.</p>.<p>Blinken said the United States stood solidly behind Australia, which has faced growing pressure from China.</p>.<p>"Beijing has seen over the past months that Australia will not back down and the threats of economic retaliation and pressure simply will not work," Blinken said.</p>.<p>"The United States will not leave Australia alone on the field or, better yet, on the pitch," he said, using sporting metaphors.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest videos from <i data-stringify-type="italic">DH</i>:</strong></p>