The US announced a new alliance on Wednesday with Britain and Australia to bolster military capabilities in the face of growing competition with China, including a new Australian nuclear submarine fleet and cruise missiles.
The announcement of the new partnership was made in a video conference by President Joe Biden, Australian PM Scott Morrison, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Biden said that the work to enable Australia to develop nuclear-capable submarines would ensure that they had “the most modern capabilities we need to maneuver and defend against rapidly evolving threats.” Biden further said that the submarines will not be nuclear-armed but will be powered with nuclear reactors.
Scott Morrison also declared that Australia would procure long-range US Tomahawk cruise missiles. “Our world is becoming more complex, especially here in our region, the Indo-Pacific. This affects us all. The future of the Indo-Pacific will impact all our futures,” Morrison said.
Boris Jonhson said that they would work “hand in glove to preserve stability and security in the Indo-Pacific.”
Morisson will join Biden again on September 24 (in-person) at a first White House gathering of the Quad diplomatic group of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States.
