The United States and the United Kingdom have announced a new trilateral security partnership with Australia to counter China's ambitions in the South Pacific.
The alliance will enable the Royal Australian Navy to acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines for the first time.
USA TODAYย adds:
The new partnership, which will be known as AUKUS, will enable the three countries to share artificial intelligence, undersea capabilities and other advanced technologies and deepen cooperation on a range of defense capabilitiesย in theย Indo-Pacificย region.
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โThis is about investing in our greatest source of strength, our alliances, and updating them to better meet the threats of today and tomorrow,โ saidย Presidentย Joe Biden, who announced the partnershipย Wednesday during a virtual news conferenceย with Australian Prime Ministerย Scott Morrisonย and British Prime Ministerย Boris Johnson.
Senior administration officials who briefed reporters ahead of the announcement on the condition of anonymityย said the partnership is designed to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and should not be viewed as a direct challenge to China.
Relations between the U.S. and China have frayed in recent years over a range of issues, including trade, intellectual property theft, human rights and China's aggressive actions against Hong Kong.