Biden and UK to help Australia acquire nuclear submarines in new pushback on China

President Joe Biden plans to unveil Wednesday a new effort to help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines, a major step toward countering China as he works to build international backing for his approach to Beijing.

The announcement will come as part of a new trilateral partnership between the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom that the three countries' leaders will jointly reveal Wednesday afternoon. Biden is set to speak Wednesday evening from the White House on the new initiative.

The partnership kicks off what is expected to be a flurry of diplomatic engagements for Biden this autumn, from next week's United Nations meetings to a White House summit of Asian leaders to October's Group of 20 talks in Italy.