On September 15th, 2021. The United States, The United Kingdom, and Australia announced a new pact,  joining forces to form a new defense pact to combat China’s ever growing power in Asia. The new pact is named AUKUS.

President Joe Biden held a virtual meeting with both prime ministers of the United Kingdom, and Australia as they announced the pact is a coordinated effort to combat China’s growing influence in trade, and defense, according to the senior administration officials. The pact is said to branch together the three nations military capabilities, technology, and artificial intelligence, this was announced during a joint virtual conference with US President Joe Biden, United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

“We have always believed in a world that favours freedom, that respects human dignity, the rule of law, the independence of sovereign states and the peaceful fellowship of nations,” said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison while speaking on CNN and the BBC. This comes as the agreement also allows Australia to obtain its first nuclear powered submarine to its defense fleet as a part of the joint defense pact.

Many countries have since protested this new pact, including France and Canada, France being particularly vocal as they feel the pact is a”stab in the back”, said by French Foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, during an interview on France Info Radio. While Canadian officials said AUKUS wasn’t in the best interest of their respective countries, Prime Minister Trudeau saying “This is a deal for nuclear submarines, which Canada is not currently or any time soon in the market for. Australia is.” during a Thursday interview last week.