Australia’s prime minister announced Wednesday that he will meet in the United States with President Joe Biden, where he is expected to unveil a deal to purchase nuclear-powered submarines.

After 18 months of deliberations, Australia is due to unveil plans to acquire eight nuclear-powered submarines, which Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said would be a big leap in his country’s defense capabilities.

“I will be meeting with President Biden in the United States. We will soon have announcements with details on the plans,” Albanese said, without specifying the place and date of the meeting.

Over the past year and a half, talks have been held between Washington, Canberra and London on Australia’s purchase of nuclear propulsion technologies.

This is the first time U.S. nuclear submarine technologies will be exported since the 1960s, when Washington helped the U.K. design its own submersibles.

The contract for the submarines is for billions of dollars, but experts point out that its relevance goes beyond the job creation and investment involved.

AUKUS Alliance
Nuclear submarines are difficult to detect, can travel long distances for extended periods and would be armed with advanced cruise missiles.

According to experts, that makes them a deterrent to potential enemies, allowing Australia to launch attacks or counterattacks on enemy territory without warning.

Beijing has expressed its firm opposition to the project, which it describes as “dangerous” and designed to corner China.

The deal made under the auspices of the AUKUS group, which brings together Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, is still shrouded in doubt.

It is unclear whether Australia will buy U.S. or British submarines, where they will be built and when they will be available.

“The AUKUS alliance seeks to provide a nuclear-powered submarine and conventional weapons to Australia as soon as possible,” a Pentagon spokesman told AFP ahead of Albanese’s announcement.

 

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