US President Joe Biden has met Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison several days after unveiling a new partnership that would enable Australia to acquire at least eight US nuclear submarines led to a diplomatic blow-up with France.
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The new deal that also included the United Kingdom led Australia to cancel previous submarine acquisitions from France, which then recalled its US ambassador.
The deal has widely been seen as an effort by the US, UK and Australia to counter an increasingly assertive China.
The pair are meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Morrison did not address the submarines issue directly but thanked Biden for his leadership in the region.
"The United States has no closer or more reliable ally than Australia," Biden said, adding that the goal of the two countries is a "free and open" Pacific region.
Morrison praised Biden for understanding the complexities of the situation in the region.
"There's no doubt you get it," the prime minister said.
Morrison separately said their partnership was one that also reached out to Asian and European allies.
Biden said that their conversation will continue on Friday in a meeting with Japan and India, the other two members of a separate partnership known as the Quad.
with Reuters
Australian Associated Press
