A diplomatic crisis has flared up since the United States and Australia announced on Thursday that the countries have entered into an agreement on nuclear-powered submarines.
The deal was made behind the back of France, which is losing an earlier agreement with Australia worth the equivalent of close to SEK 350 billion.
France reacted angrily and called home its ambassadors from Canberra and Washington.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is very critical of the countries' treatment of France in connection with the agreement.
"One of our member countries has been treated in a way that is not acceptable," she told CNN on Monday.
"A clear lack of loyalty"
The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, is also sharply critical.
- The basic principle for allies is openness and trust.
And what do we notice?
A clear lack of loyalty and openness, he tells reporters at the UN headquarters in New York.
EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss the submarine deal when they gather in connection with the opening of the UN General Assembly, reports Reuters.
Discussing settlement
The foreign ministers are also discussing the larger issue of the security agreement that the USA, Australia and the United Kingdom have concluded and which has been named Aukus.
- We will analyze the significance of the Aukus agreement, says a spokesperson for the European Commission.
French President Macron will have a telephone meeting with his American counterpart Biden in the coming days. Ahead of the two leaders' talks, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian says the country needs an explanation and clarification on the submarine deal from the United States.