We'll be closing our live page shortly. You can read more in our main news story here and here's a reminder of today's announcement by the US, UK and Australian leaders:

• US President Joe Biden confirmed the US will send three Virginia-Class submarines to Australia, with the potential to sell up to two more if needed
• He said the US will partner with the UK to build a new "SSN-Aukus" submarine based on British design and incorporating US technologies
• Australian Prime Minister Albanese described the Aukus agreement as the "biggest single investment in Australia's defence capability" and said it will offer opportunities for Australian workers
• British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said thousands of new jobs will be created in places like Barrow and Derby to help with the design and creation of the submarines
• Sunak cited Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, China's growing assertiveness, and the "destabilising behaviour" of Iran and North Korea as reasons for strengthening resilience
• UK engineering giant Rolls-Royce will provide the reactors for the nuclear-powered submarines, creating jobs at its business in England's East Midlands

Today's live page was written by Nadine Yousif, Emily McGarvey, Andre Rhoden-Paul, Rob Corp, Victoria Lindrea, Mattea Bubalo and Jasmine Taylor-Coleman.

Will Grant
Reporting from San Diego

The Aukus group’s decision to supply Australia with several nuclear-propelled submarines is being billed as the most significant trilateral military technology agreement since the Cold War.

Australia will procure at least three Virginia-class attack submarines from the United States and the UK will supply the SSN-AUKUS, an updated version of the Astute submarine, expected to be built in Barrow-in-Furness.

The British Government says it will create thousands of jobs in the decades ahead.

For its part, Australia will obtain the naval deterrent it has sought in the face of China’s ambitions in the Indo-Pacific.

The UK and the US also plan to establish a Submarine Rotational Force operating near Western Australia.

The submarines won't carry nuclear weapons. But China has condemned the alliance as “extremely irresponsible” and accused the members of having a “Cold War mentality”.

Dubbed the SSN-AUKUS, the new model of nuclear-powered attack submarine will be built in Britain and Australia to a British design.

The state-of-the-art submarines - the first of which is expected to be ready in the UK in the late 2030s - will use a "significant" amount of technology from the nuclear-powered Virginia class submarine.

They will mainly be built by BAE Systems at Barrow-in-Furness, and Rolls-Royce - and will replace the Royal Navy's Astute-class boats when they enter into operation.

"Plans we have announced today will see pioneering British design expertise protect our people and our allies for generations to come," said UK PM Rishi Sunak.

The submarines will carry conventional weapons and the nuclear reactors will be sealed shut and not require refuelling in their lifetimes.

Training of Australian personnel, alongside members of the US Navy and the Royal Navy will begin this year

Chris Mason
Political editor in San Diego

Under a warm early spring sunshine and a coastal Pacific breeze, the three leaders stood in front of huge flags representing each state.

The imagery and the words here were meant to work in unison - old democracies coming together to counter a new and growing adversary: China.

All around us, the machinery of power: submarines, partially emerged from the deep.

Warships - themselves festooned with flags - fluttering, sailors looking on.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

Frank Gardner
Security Correspondent

There are compelling reasons why the UK should want to forge a deeper strategic partnership with its two biggest Pacific Ocean allies, the US and Australia. In an increasingly bipolar world where China and Russia are drawing closer together on one side, pro-Western democracies like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines are drawing closer to the US on the other.

The Aukus pact between Australia, the UK and US is designed to confront China’s expansion in the western Pacific.

But, beyond helping Australia build its new fleet of nuclear submarines, does Britain have the capacity to project military power 10,000km (6,000 miles) away on the other side of the planet, when its armed forces are already stretched and much of its arsenal has been committed to Ukraine?

“If China invades Taiwan”, I asked then-Foreign Secretary Liz Truss last June, “will Britain go to her defence?” She declined to answer.

A senior British army officer was a little more forthcoming. “Look”, he said, “we’re struggling to keep up with one war on our doorstep (Ukraine). We certainly couldn’t cope with a war in the Pacific as well."

Image source, Getty Images

As part of today's Aukus announcement, the US has pledged a total of $4.6bn (£3.7bn) over the next few years to build its submarine construction capacity and to improve maintenance of its Virginia class SSN.

Of that money, $2.4bn will go towards the US submarine industrial base over the years 2023 to 2027.

The rest will be spent on maintenance of the Virginia class SSN - America's latest nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine model - over the years 2024 to 2028.

The US says it is examining "additional investments" it can make to support Aukus, while promising that this deal will create thousands of highly skilled jobs in America.

Rob Corp
Live reporter

Ahead of the news conference by the leaders of the US, UK and Australia, the White House in Washington put out a "fact sheet" on its website, external confirming many of the finer points of the Aukus pact they've been discussing in San Diego.

We now know Joe Biden, Rishi Sunak and Anthony Albanese have agreed to a series of steps which would see Australia acquire nuclear-powered conventionally armed submarines.

Under the terms of the accord:

• Beginning this year, members of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) will be embedded at US and UK submarine bases
• From 2027, the US and UK will base a small number of nuclear subs at a RAN base in Perth, Western Australia
• In the early 2030s Australia will buy three American Virginia-class submarines with options for two more

After that, the plan is to design and build an entirely new nuclear-powered submarine for the UK and Australian navies called SSN-Aukus.

Image source, BAE

Sunak says the partnership will mean that the UK Royal Navy will operate the same submarines as the Australian Navy, and will share the same components and parts as the US Navy.

"They will communicate using the same terminology and the same equipment."

"This is a powerful partnership. For the first time ever, it will mean three fleets of submarines working together across both the Atlantic and Pacific, keeping our oceans free, open and prosperous for decades to come."

Sunak says the Aukus boats will be one of the most advanced nuclear-powered submarines the world has ever known.

He says these plans could not have happened without cutting edge US technology and expertise.

"For our part, the UK comes to this with more than 60 years experience of running its own fleet," he says.

"We'll provide world leading designs and build the first of these new boats, creating thousands of good, well-paid jobs in places like Barrow and Derby."

He says the UK will share its knowledge and experience with Australian engineers so they can build their own fleet.

Sunak goes on to talk about the £5bn extra defence spending which he announced today to counter threats from hostile states.

"Our highest priority is to continue providing military aid to Ukraine because their security is our security," he says.

He says he will go further to strengthen resilience.

"For the first time, the United Kingdom will move away from the baseline commitment to spend 2% GDP on defence to a new ambition of 2.5%, putting beyond doubt that the UK is, and will remain, one of the world's leading defence powers."

He says the Aukus pact is the most "significant multi-lateral military defence partnership in generations".

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is up now. He says 60 years ago in San Diego, US President Kennedy spoke of a higher purpose - freedom, peace and security.

"Today we stand together united by that same purpose and to fulfil it we must forge the same kinds of new relationships to meet new kinds of challenges."

He says in the last 18 months, these challenges have only grown.

He says "Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, China's growing assertiveness, the destabilising behaviour of Iran and north Korea - all threaten to create a world codefined by danger, disorder and division".

He says it's more important than ever to strengthen the resilience of our countries.

Image source, AFP

Albanese says the trilateral pact will see all three countries contribute and stand to benefit.

He goes on to speak about the shared tradition of service in the cause of peace and sacrifice in the name of freedom.

"While we respect and honour the past, through Aukus we turn to face the future."

Albanese says that early in the next decade Australia will take delivery of three Virginia-class nuclear submarines - the first time in 65 years and only the second time in history that the US has shared its nuclear propulsion technology.

He also says he's proud to partner with the UK to create the SSN Aukus - a new conventionally armed nuclear powered submarine based on a British design, incorporating cutting-edge Australian, US and UK technologies.

"This will be an Australian sovereign capability, commanded by the royal Australian navy and - sustained by Australian workers in Australian shipyards with construction to begin this decade."

Image source, AFP

Albanese says this partnership will offer opportunities for Australian workers.

"Already, today, Australians are upskilling on nuclear technology and stewardship alongside their British and American counterparts," he says.

He adds that Australian submariners are also undergoing nuclear power training in the US.

"I'm proud to confirm, Mr President, that they are all in the top 30% of their class," Albanese says, to which Biden laughs in response.

Australian Prime Minister Albanese is up now. He says today marks a new chapter in the relationship between the three nations.

He says Australia, the US and UK has begun a friendship built "on our shared values... for a peaceful and prosperous future".

Albanese says the Aukus agreement is the "biggest single investment in Australia's defence capability in all of its history".

Biden says the Aukus pact is testament to the long-standing ties between the three countries.

He says they are committed to ensuring the Indo-Pacific remains free and open.

He adds more partnerships potentially lie ahead.

Biden confirms the US will send three Virginia-Class submarines to Australia, with the potential to sell up to two more if needed.

Biden says the ultimate goal is to develop something new together. He says the US will also partner with the UK to build the "SSN-Aukus" - a new state of the art nuclear submarine to combine UK submarine design with US technology.

Image source, AFP

"I want to be clear to everyone from the outset," Biden says. "These subs are not nuclear-armed, but nuclear-powered.

"Australia is a proud non-nuclear weapon state and is committed to stay that way."

He adds the three countries - the US, UK, and Australia - are deeply committed to strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

Starting this year, Biden says that Australian personnel will be embed with US and UK on boats and bases, and the US will increase its port visits to Australia.

Biden says Australia and the UK are two of America's most stalwart and capable allies.

He says for more than a century "we've stood together to defend freedom and democracy".

"The US has safeguarded security in the Indo-Pacific for decades - for the enormous benefits for nations throughout the regions.

"Our leadership has been a benefit for the entire world - we've kept sea lanes and skies open and navigable for all."

He said: "Today as we stand at an inflection point in history... the US can ask for no better partners."

The US president is first up. He's addressing a crowd of journalists with details of the Aukus defence pact.

"It's an unusual name Aukus but it's a powerful energy," he says.