Johnson tells Macron to get over AUKUS

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told French President Emmanuel Macron to "donnez moi un break" and get over his anger about the new military pact forged between the UK, US and Australia.

Speaking to reporters in Washington, the Prime Minister said: "I just think it's time for some of our dearest friends around the world to prenez un grip about this and donnez moi un break.

"Because this is fundamentally a great step forward for global security. It's three very like-minded allies standing shoulder to shoulder creating a new partnership for the sharing of technology.

"It's not exclusive. It's not trying to shoulder anybody out. It's not adversarial towards China, for instance."

Under the AUKUS pact the US and the UK will help Australia develop a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

But the deal has angered the French by ditching a $A90 billion diesel-powered submarine deal between Australia and France.