AUKUS Takes Shape With Australia's Nuclear Submarine Programme, Free From Nuclear Weapons
By Nabilah Saleh
KUALA LUMPUR, March 14 (Bernama) -- The trilateral defence partnership involving Australia, the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) -- known in short as AUKUS -- announced in 2021 to counter China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region, is now taking shape.
New details on AUKUS emerged on Monday when US President Joe Biden, and prime ministers of the UK and Australia – Rishi Sunak and Anthony Albanese, respectively – met in San Diego, California.
Australia will be the first to buy the three American Virginia-class submarines in the early 2030s, with the US and UK stationing a number of nuclear-powered subs at RAN base in Perth, Western Australia, from 2027 onwards. Even earlier than that, members of the Australian navy will be attached to US and UK submarine bases to learn about submarine operations.
Biden stressed that the boats would not have nuclear weapons and would not jeopardise Australia's commitment to being a nuclear-free country.
The US Department of State’s Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink said the bottom line of the established pact has always been nuclear weapon free, despite the concerns expressed by Southeast Asian nations about nuclear proliferation.
“The announcement today (Monday) is a modernisation of our existing alliances and partnerships. It's also a modernisation of Australia's submarine capability and technology. This is a responsible and transparent agreement carried out in the name of the highest standards of non-proliferation.
Kritenbrink said this in an online press briefing attended simultaneously by international media outlets across the globe. Also present during the briefing were Department of Defence's Senior Advisor for AUKUS Abraham Denmark, and National Security Council Director Grant Schneider.
On AUKUS expansion to include “likely-minded” countries in the trilateral security pact, Kritenbrink pointed out that the US commitment to AUKUS was also to build the collective capacity of allies, and partners across the region.
“Whether AUKUS further strengthens our treaty alliances with five very capable allies across the region, and whether it's demonstrating our commitment to ASEAN centrality in the ASEAN outlook on the Pacific, as well as our commitment to the Pacific Island forum, or the QUAD … we're using all of these different flexible, overlapping mechanisms to again build the collective capacity part of partners who are all committed to the same goal, peace and stability across the region.
-- BERNAMA
