Washington, Mar 13 (EFE).- The leaders of the United States, Britain and Australia unveiled on Monday their plans for the acquisition and development of nuclear-powered submarines within the framework of the AUKUS security pact, seen as a counterweight to China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.

The President of the United States, Joe Biden, and the Prime Ministers of Britain and Australia, Rishi Sunak and Anthony Albanese, unveiled in the city of San Diego (California) the characteristics and condition of the submarine, in what is the first real progress of the AUKUS pact.

“The United States has for decades maintained the stability of the Indo-Pacific to the great benefit of nations throughout the region,” said Biden, who claims his country’s position as a “Pacific power” with authority to maintain, among other things, the free-of-navigation area in the Indo-Pacific .

Under the agreement, Australia will purchase up to three Virginia-class single-jet submarines from the United States during the 2030s, with an option to buy two more if necessary, bringing the total to five.

For the first time in 65 years, Biden explained, the United States will share the technology at the heart of its nuclear-powered submarines with another country, allowing Australia to build its own ships.

The submarine development project, which will have several phases, will culminate in the production by Australia and the UK of a new nuclear powered submarine which will have American technology and will be referred to as “SSN-AUKUS”.

Britain will have the “SSN-AUKUS” submarine ready by the late 2030s, while Australia will complete construction in the 2040s, according to a joint statement from the three leaders.

The idea is that different US, Australian and British navies could operate one of the submarines and exchange components, and allow the fleets to communicate using the same terminology, explained Sunak.

“For the first time, three submarine fleets will be able to work together in the Atlantic and Pacific, keeping our oceans prosperous and free for decades,” said Sunak.

Meanwhile, Albanese stated that the AUKUS agreement would open “new frontiers” for the three countries with new technological innovations and a desire to guarantee a “prosperous and peaceful future.”

As they gave their speeches, the three leaders stood behind the enormous USS Missouri submarine, which displaces 7,800 tons and is one of the US Navy’s Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines.

These submarines are powered by a nuclear reactor, which allows them to operate at higher speeds and spend more time without surfacing than conventional submarines, which run on diesel.

The announcement came in San Diego as the city is home to one of the US Pacific Fleet’s major military bases.

The AUKUS tripartite compact (which stands for Australia, United Kingdom and United States) was announced on 15 September 2021.

At the time, the announcement sparked a diplomatic crisis between Australia and France because it implied the cancellation of a contract with French shipping company Naval for the development of conventional submarines for Canberra.

Although the signatory countries do not explicitly name China, the pact is seen as an alliance to counter Beijing’s influence in the strategic Indo-Pacific region, a seat of tension in the South China Sea, and in Taiwan, which the Chinese government considers a renegade territory.

The new submarines will allow Australia to join the club of nations with nuclear-powered submarines, which includes the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and India, from the next decade.