US President Joe Biden will meet British and Australian Prime Ministers Rishi Sunak and Anthony Albanese in San Diego, California on March 13 to discuss the AUKUS joint security alliance, which includes an 18-month nuclear partnership. This is reported by euronews.
Biden is reportedly set to meet two of the US's closest allies to announce that Australia will buy US-made nuclear attack submarines to modernize its fleet amid concerns about China's influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
The partners are expected to announce that Australia will purchase at least four Virginia-class nuclear submarines from the United States, and then build a modified version of the British Astute-class submarine with American combat systems and weapons during the second phase of the program, CNN writes.
The AUKUS partnership, announced in 2021, paved the way for Australia to access nuclear submarines, which are stealthier and more powerful than conventionally powered boats, as a counter to China's military buildup.
In addition, the United States is also stepping up port visits to Australia to better familiarize itself with nuclear power technology before it has its own submarines. Biden will also hold bilateral meetings with Albanese and Sunak to coordinate strategy on a range of global challenges, including Russia's war in Ukraine and the global economy.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom will increase defense spending by $6 billion to "fortify" itself against growing threats from Russia and China, the country's leader Rishi Sunak has announced ahead of long-awaited talks on AUKUS with partners the United States and Australia.
Australia will acquire US Virginia-class nuclear submarines in the 2030s as part of a defense deal between Washington, Canberra and London, according to media reports.