President Joe Biden plans to provide some details Monday about a submarine deal as he meets with U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in San Diego, according to multiple published reports.
The details are expected to include a plan for Australia to buy up to five American Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines in the 2030s, said the reports, which cited unnamed sources.
The deal, known as AUKUS, led to tensions in 2021 between the U.S. and France, which lost a contract to sell subs to Australia.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined on Wednesday afternoon to confirm reports about the upcoming event in California, but the White House press office later said Biden would meet in San Diego on Monday with the British and Aussie leaders to discuss the AUKUS partnership, which aims to counter China.
The White House also said Biden spoke by phone Tuesday with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Virginia-class submarines have been manufactured by General Dynamics Corp.
GD,
and Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc.
HII,
according to Military.com.
