Germany Warns of Lost US Trust Over Australia Deal as France Wins EU Support

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen look at the view during the 8th MED7 Mediterranean countries summit at the Stavros Niarchos cultural center in Athens, on Sept. 17, 2021. Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP via Getty Images

BRUSSELS—Germany joined France on Tuesday in berating the United States for negotiating a security pact in secret with Australia and Britain that cost Paris a lucrative defence deal, while the EU’s top official said such behaviour was unacceptable.

In a concrete signal of the bloc’s outrage, EU ambassadors postponed preparations for an inaugural trade and technology council on Sept. 29 with the United States, a gathering that was trumpeted as a major advance in the transatlantic alliance.