On Monday, the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), and Australia signed the first agreement on technology to allow for the exchange of information on nuclear propulsion under the AUKUS military partnership that was announced in September.
Under AUKUS, which was signed to counter China in the Indo-Pacific, Australia will obtain a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines capable of lengthy and long-range missions. The alliance also provides information on artificial intelligence, quantum and unidentified undersea capabilities, and cyber technology.
Before the signing of the most recent deal, US President Joe Biden on Friday said: “The Agreement will permit cooperation, which will further improve our mutual defence posture and support our interests under the North Atlantic Treaty; Australia, New Zealand, and United States Security Treaty; and the enhanced trilateral security partnership among the three Parties known as AUKUS.”
Subsequently, on Monday, Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton joined US Chargé d’Affaires Michael Goldman and British High Commissioner Victoria Treadell in Canberra to sign the agreement that now allows for the exchange of critical naval nuclear propulsion information between the nations.
In a statement, Dutton said, “With access to the information this agreement delivers, coupled with the decades of naval nuclear-powered experience our UK and US partners have, Australia will also be positioned to be responsible and reliable stewards of this technology.”
Details on the procurement, including whether Australia will obtain a vessel based on the US or the UK nuclear-powered attack submarines, are yet to be finalised.
China and France have been infuriated by the AUKUS alliance. While Beijing has accused the three countries of threatening regional stability with the partnership, France has blamed the US and Australia of blindsiding Europe and stabbing in the back as Canberra abandoned a multi-billion submarine contract with Paris for the AUKUS alliance.
To repair bilateral ties, US President Biden acknowledged the poor handling of the partnership and apologised to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. On the contrary, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been unapologetic about his handling of the situation and defended the AUKUS partnership as necessary to protect national interests.
Australia, UK, US Agree to Exchange Information on Nuclear Propulsion Under AUKUS
Details on the procurement of the submarines, including whether Australia will obtain a vessel based on the US or the UK nuclear-powered attack submarines, are yet to be finalised.
November 22, 2021
UK's PM Boris Johnson (L), Australia's PM Scott Morrison (C), and US President Joe Biden IMAGE SOURCE: WSWS