As the U.S. confronts a rising China, one country is right in the middle

This month, President Joe Biden announced a "historic project to strengthen Australian submarine capacity and our own." (Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

This month, Australia struck a deal with the U.S. and the U.K. to acquire nuclear-powered submarine technology. It's a big moment for the country that, having found itself caught between two world powers, has decisively taken sides.

Who are they? The Australians — aka a key pillar in the United States' strategy to counter an increasingly powerful China.