'Historic breakthrough': US ditches defense trade restrictions with top allies to counter China

The U.S. has removed some trade barriers so the U.K. and Australia can be given access to top defense technologies and equipment at a much faster rate as the AUKUS alliance looks to counter China.

"We want the U.K. to be the U.S.’s number-one ally, and Australia's desire is to be the U.S.’s number-one ally in the Pacific," a U.K. official familiar with the agreement told Fox News Digital. "AUKUS is about us recognizing the threat that China poses and the need for us, as America's allies, to do everything we can to be part of competing with China in that space." Caitlin McFall is a Reporter at Fox News Digital covering Politics, U.S. and World news.

A limited number of sensitive items will remain under tight U.S. control, and the U.K. official said this is another area in which the alliance can look to deepen its trust and partnership in the face of growing adversarial aggression.