UK minister: Australian submarines will assure neighbors

Australia's shift to nuclear-powered submarines will assure its South Pacific neighbors of its commitment to regional security, the United Kingdom's Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific said Monday.

Australia will announce in March what type of submarine powered with U.S. nuclear technology it wants to build under a deal with the United States and Britain revealed in September last year. The minister said she expects the three nations to work closely together to deliver a fleet of eight submarines.