UK, US, and Australia to Announce Major Defense Partnership to Counter China’s Growing Military Might

The United Kingdom, United States, and Australia are set to announce the latest steps in a defense partnership to counter China’s growing military might, according to U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Sunak told NBC News on Sunday that China poses a “systemic challenge” to the global order, and is “acting in a more authoritarian fashion at home” and is “more assertive overseas.”

In a statement released Sunday, Sunak pledged to use an extra $6 billion in defense spending, spread over two years, to replenish ammunition stocks, modernize the UK’s nuclear submarine program and fund the “next phase” of AUKUS, a security pact struck between the three nations in 2021.

Speaking to NBC News’ Lester Holt at the USS Midway Museum shortly after his arrival in San Diego for the three-way summit, Sunak said, “The behavior that we’ve seen in China over recent times is concerning. China represents the biggest state threat to our economic interests, for sure.”

The details of the AUKUS program are set to be revealed Monday in San Diego during a joint news conference between Sunak, US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The news conference is scheduled to take place at 7 a.m. ET and will be broadcast on the “TODAY” show. Sunak’s interview with NBC News’ Lester Holt will be broadcast on “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m.

The three-way summit between the U.K., U.S., and Australia is expected to be a major step in strengthening the countries’ defense partnership and countering China’s growing military presence. It is also expected to be a major topic of discussion at the upcoming G7 summit in June.