The US, UK and Australia want to work together on nuclear powered submarines. However, the project sometimes provokes great outrage.
China is getting stronger and stronger – in view of Beijing’s increasing show of power, the USA and Great Britain want to support Australia in strengthening security in the Indo-Pacific region. Washington and London are supporting Canberra in the construction of eight nuclear-powered submarines, as Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a video conference with US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday (local time). The announcement of the new alliance caused great resentment in Beijing – and France, which had been terminated a multi-billion dollar submarine deal with Canberra, felt offended.
However, submarines for Australia will not be armed with nuclear weapons
“We intend to build these submarines in Adelaide, Australia in close cooperation with the United States and Great Britain,” announced Morrison. The submarines are supposed to be operated with nuclear power, but not to transport nuclear weapons, as the heads of state and government of the Aukus said, emphasized the new three-party alliance. According to Morrisons, the next 18 months will see how the project can be implemented.
The three heads of state and government did not explicitly mention China when they announced their deal. However, they cited regional security concerns. “This initiative is about making sure that each of us has modern resources – the most modern resources we need – to respond to and defend ourselves against the rapidly evolving threats,” said Biden.
Australia, but also the USA, are looking at the emergence of economically and militarily emerging China with increasing concern. Morrison said the new tripartite alliance should help address the “challenges” in the “increasingly complex” Indo-Pacific region. Australia will also receive new Tomahawk cruise missiles from the USA.
The alliance gives Canberra access to state-of-the-art armaments technology: nuclear-powered submarines “are quieter, faster and have a longer service life, so that Australia can use its future submarines for significantly longer periods in the Indo-Pacific,” said the expert Ashley Townshend from the Center for US – Studies at the University of Sydney by the AFP news agency.
China was visibly angry on Thursday and described the alliance as “extremely irresponsible”. Aukus is “seriously undermining regional peace and stability and promoting the arms race,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian. Morrison had previously sought talks with China and issued an “open invitation” to President Xi Jinping.
Australia buries submarine plans with France – Paris very upset
The new agreement is, however, to the disadvantage of France: A few hours after the announcement, Canberra canceled a multi-billion dollar submarine deal with Paris. His country will no longer maintain the agreement with the French company Naval Group on submarines worth the equivalent of just under 56 billion euros, said Morrison.
The decision is “not a change of heart, but a change in requirements”. Australia had originally agreed to buy twelve submarines with the French Naval Group. However, the French models only have conventional drives. The armaments project had to struggle with years of delays and additional costs.
The Naval Group was “disappointed” with the announcement. France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Canberra had “stabbed Paris in the back” with it. US President Biden made a “brutal” decision based on the motto of his predecessor Donald Trump. Biden tried to appease by stating that the US wanted to work “closely” with France in the Indo-Pacific region. France is a “key partner” there.
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
