I've been reading the news with interest regarding France's response to the announcement of a new US-UK-Australia security agreement whose major feature was an agreement to share technology to enable Australia to produce nuclear powered attack submarines (widely seen as a counter to China's growing blue water navy). I am not surprised that the French are upset, because it meant that a troubled (and expensive) deal to provide Australia with conventionally powered attack subs seems to have been scuttled. But the level of their pique has been a bit puzzling to me. Sure, some French companies lost out on business, but no fundamental French security or foreign policy interests were affected; it's really just a question of money, which in the long run is going to have a pretty marginal effect.
Am I missing something about why the French are miffed? Their language and actions seemed a bit much to me. Is there a subtext I haven't fully understood?