SAN DIEGO (CNS) - President Joe Biden arrived in San Diego Monday afternoon to meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to discuss the Australia-United Kingdom-United States partnership known as AUKUS.
Monday's meeting is expected to outline how Australia will acquire up to five nuclear-powered submarines from the United States as part of the agreement, according to the White House.
The trilateral AUKUS pact announced in 2021 aims to boost Australia's submarine program and, according to a joint statement, "help sustain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region."
Air Force One touched down at Naval Air Station North Island at around 12:15 p.m.
Biden will be greeted later in the day by San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and other local elected officials at San Diego International Airport.
The visit will be Biden's first to the San Diego area since a 19-hour visit Oct. 3-4 when he spoke at MiraCosta College in Oceanside and a technology company in Carlsbad.
California Republican Party Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson released the following statement on President Biden’s return visit to California:
"As President Biden embarks on a two-day swing through the Golden State, there are countless items we’d love to hear him address. He should explain to Californians why he’s doubling down on reckless policies that are driving inflation and pushing Americans further into debt. He should explain to Californians why he’s fought against American energy independence as California’s gas prices near $5 a gallon. And he should explain to Californians why our border still sits wide open as deadly fentanyl spills into our communities. Californians deserve answers to the pressing issues they face because of the Biden administration’s failures, but we won’t hold our breath that we’ll get them on his California trip or anytime soon."
