Australia is set to provide $3 billion US dollars to British industry to support the construction of nuclear-powered submarines and ensure its new fleet arrives on time. The announcement on Friday, Mar. 22 came a day after the two countries signed a defense and security pact to better meet challenges such as China’s increased activity in the South China Sea and South Pacific. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles toured the Osborne shipyard in Adelaide, where the submarines will be built, alongside his British counterpart Grant Shapps, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy.