Officials in London and Washington have revealed that the British government took an early role in negotiating a three-way alliance with the United States and Australia to deploy nuclear-powered submarines in the Pacific. This significant agreement was announced shortly after Australia scrapped a $66 billion deal for diesel-electric submarines with France, causing anger in Paris and satisfaction in London. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson sees this as his first tangible success in positioning post-Brexit Britain as a global player. Since leaving the European Union 18 months ago, Britain has been searching for its role on the world stage, with the slogan "Global Britain" being seen as more of a marketing ploy than a coherent foreign policy. Johnson is set to meet with President Joe Biden at the White House and address the United Nations in the upcoming week. The agreement made on Wednesday between the United States, Britain, and Australia to supply Australia with submarines solidified Britain's reputation as a military power with nuclear capabilities and a reliable ally of the US. This deal not only supported Johnson's efforts to establish a British presence in Asia, but also demonstrated the country's ability to negotiate trade agreements with key Asian nations and deploy military resources to counter China's expanding influence in the South China Sea. According to Kim Darroch, a former British ambassador to Washington, this deal marks a significant step in establishing a strong British presence in the defense and economic sectors in the region, although the specifics of economic benefits still need to be clarified with the United States. Joining a distant security alliance also comes with costs and expectations for Britain, which is reducing its military size and facing financial challenges due to the pandemic. However, after feeling overlooked by Biden in the Afghanistan withdrawal, the alliance was seen as a way for Britain to regain importance. British officials saw the deal as a demonstration of their ability to adapt in a post-Brexit world, even if it meant distancing themselves from a European neighbor. Australia initially approached Britain for help with deploying nuclear-powered submarines, as they felt the diesel models from a previous French deal would not be sufficient in the face of increasing Chinese threats. Britain's historical connection with the United States in nuclear technology dates back to a 1958 defense agreement, making collaboration between the two allies not only natural but necessary. The United States will supply the highly enriched uranium needed to power the submarines' reactors. British and Australian officials made a strong effort to convince Washington to support the partnership, with discussions between Johnson and Biden at the Group of 7 meeting in Cornwall, England in June. Despite American officials questioning why Australia couldn't buy submarines directly from the United States, Britain argued that their military protocols were more compatible with those of Australia, making it easier for the Australians to operate vessels equipped with British technology. A Biden administration official stated that there was never a consideration of excluding Britain from the alliance. According to Bates Gill, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in Sydney, the decision was mainly technical but could also have been influenced by concerns about trustworthiness. For Johnson, who prioritizes the "special relationship" with the United States in his foreign policy, the submarine deal was seen as a way to make up for feeling ignored by Biden on his views on Afghanistan. Despite any tensions, Johnson has expressed support for Biden on his policies. Primary focus: the rivalry with China. Thomas Wright, director of the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution, commended the British strategy, emphasizing that decisions come with repercussions. Some in Britain may not see the advantages as outweighing the potential drawbacks. Former Prime Minister Theresa May cautioned that Britain could become involved in a conflict with China regarding Taiwan. Johnson previously asserted in 2016 that exiting the EU would enable Britain to interact with China on its own terms. Before Beijing imposed stricter measures on Hong Kong, which was previously under British rule, Britain's stance towards China appeared to be very similar to that of the United States. Prime Minister Johnson is aiming to enhance Britain's reputation by hosting a successful United Nations conference on climate change in Glasgow, Scotland in November. However, it remains uncertain how much support he will receive from President Biden. Britain is urging the United States to increase its contribution to a $100 billion annual fund to assist nations in dealing with the effects of climate change. Analysts suggest that Britain has not yet achieved this, but they believe that the country may benefit from having a new foreign secretary, Liz Truss, who has received praise for her work negotiating trade deals in Asia. Truss replaced Dominic Raab, who was demoted by Boris Johnson after facing criticism for being on vacation in Crete while the Taliban took control of Kabul. Despite some criticism, former British ambassador to Washington Peter Westmacott believes Truss is well-suited to enhance Britain's global presence. However, despite these positive changes, Britain still faces significant geopolitical challenges. The submarine agreement is expected to further strain France's relationship with the United Kingdom, which is already tense due to disagreements over fishing rights and migrants crossing the English Channel post-Brexit. The French government's displeasure towards Britain was evident in its reaction to news of the alliance: It withdrew its ambassadors from the United States and Australia but kept its envoy in Britain, indicating that it sees Britain as a minor player in global politics. Some analysts suggested that France was upset because it felt the United States was rewarding Britain instead of punishing it for leaving the EU. However, Prime Minister Johnson should not assume that relations with Washington will be smooth sailing either, as there may be disagreements over Northern Ireland's post-Brexit trade arrangements. During her visit to London on Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reiterated a warning that Congress would not approve a trade agreement between Britain and the United States if Britain jeopardized peace in Northern Ireland. Analysts noted that President Biden's actions towards Britain on Afghanistan and the security alliance with France showed that the United States would prioritize its interests over trans-Atlantic relationships, regardless of sensitivities. Leslie Vinjamuri, director of the US and the Americas program at Chatham House, highlighted the disparity in how much Americans and Brits are discussing these issues, emphasizing the unequal nature of the "special relationship."