Washington,Sept 16,2021:The United States announced a new alliance Wednesday with Australia and Britain to strengthen military capabilities in the face of growing rivalry with China.
The announcement of the alliance — made in a video meeting by President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his British counterpart Boris Johnson — is sure to raise hackles in Beijing.
It also met with swift pushback from France, which has been negotiating a multi-billion-dollar sale of conventional submarines to Australia.
Biden said the work to enable Australia to build nuclear-powered submarines would ensure that they had “the most modern capabilities we need to maneuver and defend against rapidly evolving threats.”
The submarines, stressed Biden and the other leaders, will not be nuclear armed, only powered with nuclear reactors.
Morrison later announced Australia would also acquire long-range US Tomahawk cruise missiles.
The three leaders did not mention China in unveiling the partnership, dubbed AUKUS, but their intent was clear.
