On Wednesday, Australia's prime minister Anthony Albanese said he will soon meet President Joe Biden in the United States, where they are expected to unveil a nuclear submarine deal aimed at countering China.
After 18 months of negotiations, it's anticipated that Australia will reveal plans to obtain eight nuclear-powered submarines, in what Albanese has called "the single biggest leap" in defence capability in the country's history.
The deal is part of the fledgling regional security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States known as AUKUS.
"I'll be meeting with President Biden in the United States," Albanese told reporters in Perth on Wednesday.
"We'll have further announcements about details soon about the arrangements that will be taking place."
Australia does not have the expertise to build its own nuclear subs -- which have an extended range and powerful strike capabilities -- and must buy them from either the US or the UK.
Since September 2021, detailed behind-the-scenes talks have been taking place between the AUKUS partners about how to equip Australia's military with sensitive nuclear-propulsion technology.
The deal has concerned some of Australia's largest regional allies, with both Indonesia and Malaysia questioning whether it could spark a nuclear arms race in the Indo-Pacific.
Australia has ruled out equipping the subs with nuclear weapons, while the subs will be powered by a nuclear reactor.
The submarine contract is worth tens of billions of US dollars, but experts say its significance goes beyond jobs created and investments pledged.
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