The sub deal is thought to be the most significant international collaboration on defence capability anywhere, for decades
ONLY SIX countries in the world—America, Britain, China, France, India and Russia—currently operate nuclear-powered submarines. Australia may become the unlikely seventh. In a statement and joint televised appearance on September 15th, Joe Biden, Boris Johnson and Scott Morrison, America, Britain and Australia’s leaders, announced what they described as an “enhanced trilateral security partnership”, awkwardly named AUKUS.
Instead, it will acquire nuclear subs and its partners will be America and Britain, both of whom have operated such vessels for decades. “We will leverage expertise from the United States and the United Kingdom, building on the two countries’ submarine programs to bring an Australian capability into service at the earliest achievable date,” promised the joint statement.
The proposed new vessels would thus provide “real... striking power”, says Malcolm Davis of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute , “which is what we need in deterring and responding to a growing challenge from China’s PLA [People’s Liberation Army]”. Australia’s relationship with China has grown increasingly frosty. Last year China imposed bans on various Australian goods in response to its calls for an inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.
Ashley Townshend, the co-author of that report, says that Mr Biden’s willingness to share highly advanced defence technology—“something the US has rarely been willing to do”, he notes—is a welcome surprise. “It suggests a more strategic approach to collective defence.” On September 24th Mr Biden is also due to host the first-ever in-person summit of the leaders of the Quad, a burgeoning diplomatic bloc that includes America, Australia, Japan and India.
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