to make more gentle the life of this world. thank you very much. thank you to 40 million americans, 40 million californians. thank you for rejecting this recall. good night. >> c-span shop.org is c-span's online store. shop now and get cozy for cooler weather with the c-span fall sale. browse to see what is new and save up to 30% on a classic logo apparel shirts and hoodies, also fleece blankets, mugs, and glasses. there's something for every c-span fan. shop now through september 21. your purchase will support our nonprofit rations. go to c-spanshop.org. >> president biden and the prime minister's of australia and

great britain announce an effort to build a nuclear submarine fleet stationed in australia. the three leaders met via videoconference. via videoconference today to announce a new indo pacific trilateral partnership called a ukus to address security threats in the region. this is about 15 minutes.

>> we have always believed in -- [indiscernible] today, we join our nations in a next-generation partnership built on a strong foundation of proven trust. we have always seen the world through a similar lens. we have always believed in a world that favors freedom; that respects human dignity, the rule of law, the independence of sovereign states, and the peaceful fellowship of nations. and while we've always looked to each other to do what we believe is right, we have never left at

each other. always together. never alone. our world is becoming more complex, especially here in our region, the indo-pacific. this affects us all. the future of the indo-pacific will impact all our futures. to meet these challenges, to help deliver the security and stability our region needs, we must now take our partnership to a new level a partnership that seeks to engage, not to exclude; to contribute, not take; and to enable and empower, not to control or coerce. and so, friends, aukus is born a new enhanced trilateral security partnership between australia, the united kingdom, and the united states. aukus: a partnership where our technology, our scientists, our industry, our defense forces are all working together to deliver a safer and more secure region that ultimately benefits all. aukus will also enhance our contribution to our growing network of partnerships in the indo-pacific region: anzus; our asean friends; our bilateral strategic partners, the quad; five eyes countries; and, of course, our dear pacific family. the first major initiative of aukus will be to deliver a nuclear-powered submarine fleet for australia. over the next 18 months, we will work together to seek to determine the best way forward

to achieve this. this will include an intense examination of what we need to do to exercise our nuclear stewardship responsibilities here in australia. we intend to build these submarines in adelaide, australia, in close cooperation with the united kingdom and the united states. but let me be clear australia is not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons or establish a civil nuclear capability. and we will continue to meet all our nuclear non-proliferation obligations. australia has a long history of defense cooperation with the united states and the united kingdom. for more than a century, we have stood together for the cause of peace and freedom, motivated by the beliefs we share, sustained by the bonds of friendship we have forged, enabled by the sacrifice of those who have gone before us, and inspired by our shared hope for those who will follow us. but let me be clear and so, today, friends, we recommit ourselves to this cause and a new aukus vision. i'm delighted to join president biden and prime minister to announce that the united kingdom, australia, and the

united states are creating a new trilateral defense partnership, known as aukus, with the aim of working hand in glove to preserve security and stability in the indo-pacific. and prime minister morrison to announce the united kingdom, australia and the united states are creating a new trilateral defense partnership known as aukus with the aim of working hand in glove to preferred -- preserved security and stability in the indo pacific. we are entering a new chapter in our friendship and the first task of this partnership will be to help australia acquire a fleet of nuclear powered submarines, emphasizing the submarines in question will be powered by nuclear reactors, not armed with nuclear weapons. our work will be fully in line with our nonproliferation obligations. this will be one of the most complex and technically demanding projects in the world.

lasting for decades and requiring the most advanced technology. it will draw on the expertise the u.k. has required dating back to the launch of the royal navy's first nuclear submarine over 60 years ago. together, with the other opportunities from aukus, creating hundreds of highly skilled jobs across the u.k. including scotland and the midlands, taking forward this driving purpose of leveling up across the whole country. we will have a new opportunity to reinforce britain place as the leading edge of science and technology, strengthening our national expertise and most significantly, the u.k., australia and the u.s. will be joined even more closely together.

reflecting the measure of trust between us. the depth of our friendship and the enduring strength of our shared values of freedom and democracy. only a handful of countries possess nuclear powered submarines. and it is a momentous decision for any nation to acquire this capability. and perhaps equally momentous for any other state to come to its aid. australia is one of our oldest friends. a kindred nation and a fellow democracy and a natural partner in this enterprise. now, the u.k. will embark on this project alongside our allies, making the world safer and generating jobs across our united kingdom. over to you, mr. president. pres. biden: thank you, boris.

i would like to thank the fellow down under. thank, powell -- pal. i am honored today to be joined by two of our closest allies to launch a new phase of the trilateral security operation. as prime minister boris johnson said, i thank you for your partnership, your vision as we embark upon this strategic mission. although the australia, u.k., u.s. partnership, aukus, which sounds strange, we will enhance our shared abilities to take on the threats of the 21st century just as we did in the 20th century. our nations and our brave fighting forces have stood shoulder to shoulder for more than 100 years to the trench fighting in world war i, island hopping in world war ii, and the

scorching heat of the persian gulf. the united states, australia and united kingdom have been faithful and capable partners and are even closer today. today we take another historic step to formalize cooperations along our nations. we recognize the imperative of assuring peace and stability in the indo pacific over the long-term. we need to address both the current strategic environment and how it may evolve. the future of each of our nations, and the world, depends on free -- on a free indo pacific. this is about investing in our greatest source of strength. our alliances. updating them to better meet the threats of today and tomorrow. it's about connecting america's existing allies in -- and partners in new ways and amplifying our ability to

collaborate, recognizing there is no divide separating the interests of our atlantic and pacific partners. this effort refracts the broader trend of european countries playing an extremely important role in the indo pacific. france already has substantial presence is a key partner and ally in strengthening the security and prosperity of the region. the u.s. looks forward to working with france and other countries as we go forward. this initiative is about making sure each of us has a modern capability, the most modern capabilities we need to maneuver and defend against rapidly evolving threats. . aukus will bring together sciences and industries to maintain and expand our military capabilities and critical technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum

technologies and undersea domains. as a key project, we are launching consultations with australia, this acquisition of conventionally armed nuclear powered submarines for its navy. conventionally armed. i want to be clear, we are not talking about nuclear armed submarines. these are conventionally armed some brains powered by nuclear reactors. this technology is proven and safe. the united states and the u.k. have been operating nuclear submarines for decades. i've asked secretary austen of the department of defense to lead this effort for the u.s. government in close collaboration with the department of energy and department of state. our governments will now launch an 18 month consultation period to determine every element of this program from workforce to training to production to

safeguards and nonproliferation measures and to nuclear stewardship send safety to ensure full compliance with each of our commitments of a nuclear nonproliferation treaty. we will undertake this effort in a way that reflects the long-standing leadership and global non-proliferation and rigorous verification standards and partnership in consultation with the international atomic energy agency. i want to thank prime minister morrison and prime minister boris johnson for their friendship, but mostly for their leadership and partnership as we undertake this new phase in our security cooperation. the united states will continue to work with the quad, as stated earlier. our five treaty allies and other partners, as well as allies and partners in europe and around the world to maintain a free indo pacific and build a future of peace, opportunity for all the people in the region.

our partnerships are getting stronger. this is what we are about. i thank you all and i look forward to seeing you both in person very soon -- i hope. thank you. >> [indiscernible] >> c-span is your unfiltered view of government, funded by these companies and more, including mediacom. >> the world changed in an instant and mediacom