The Aukus alliance is probably the most important security agreement between the three nations since World War II, according to analysts. The UK had not yet made an official statement on the deal at the time of going to press. The announcement of the pact shortly after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan contradicts the official narrative of our decline. Chinese media has focused on attacking the new deal as the latest U.S. move to contain China, speculating that the submarines could carry nuclear weapons. The deal marks the end of a $90 billion contract signed by Australia with French company Naval Group in 2016. This agreement had become bogged down in cost overruns, delays and design changes. This is a setback for President Emmanuel Macron. China condemned the deal as “extremely irresponsible.” A senior U.S. official described the deal as “a fundamental decision that has decisively bound Australia to the United States and Britain for generations.” I am pleased to transmit to Congress, pursuant to section 123d. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C.
2153(d)), the text of an agreement between the Government of the United States of America, the Government of Australia and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the “United Kingdom”) on the exchange of naval information on nuclear propulsion (the “Agreement”). I am also happy to provide them with my written approval, authorization and statement regarding the agreement. The memorandum presented to me by the Minister of Energy, which contains a summary of the agreement, is also attached. A trade war between China and Australia has worsened relations between the countries. The dispute, which began in April 2020 after Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an investigation into the origins of Covid-19, has cost both countries around $4 billion. Josh Frydenberg, Australia`s treasurer, accused Beijing this month of using sanctions to exert “political pressure” on Australian goods. New Zealand, another partner of the US, NATO and the Five Eyes in the region, also expressed concern about the nuclear aspect of the deal, confirming that Australia`s future nuclear submarines would not be allowed in its waters in line with its long-standing anti-nuclear policy. Australia said it intends to build eight nuclear-powered submarines as part of the deal. CORRECTION: In an earlier version of this report, the acronym for the new agreement between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia has been distorted. This is AUKUS.
Washington and Canberra signed an “Agreement 123” on the gold standard in 2010, in which Australia promised not to enrich or reprocess any nuclear material sent by the United States. The announcement comes amid growing competition between Beijing and Washington and its allies in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly over Taiwan and the disputed South China Sea, which China claims almost entirely, while several other countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia, are making rival claims. Another U.S. official said any sale of submarines to Australia would take several years. But in the meantime, there will be pressure for more US nuclear submarines to call at Australia to show their presence. Late last year, the United States struck an agreement with Norway to expand and modernize a port in the Arctic to allow U.S. nuclear submarines to dock and refuel, an important step in expanding operations in the Far North, where Russia`s powerful northern fleet rules. Some critics of the deal warn that it sets a dangerous precedent for countries to exploit a loophole in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The treaty allows non-nuclear-weapon countries to build nuclear-powered submarines and remove the fissile material they need for submarine reactors from the stockpile monitored by the global regulator, the International Atomic Energy Agency, opening up the possibility that they could be diverted to produce weapons. Australia would be the first country to exploit this loophole. The new partnership was announced Wednesday at a joint virtual press conference between US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison. The Naval Group, which had been tasked with building 12 state-of-the-art attack submarines, said the new deal was a “huge disappointment.” The National Interest Analysis on ENNPIA, a document outlining why the Australian government sees the treaty as beneficial to Australia, said ENNPIA is only intended to facilitate the exchange of information on nuclear naval propulsion.
A subsequent agreement should be negotiated to support the transfer of equipment, materials or technology related to nuclear naval propulsion. After the 18-month consultation phase of AUKUS – and once the requirements and obligations for nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy are understood and assessed – such an agreement would be negotiated and subject to the requirements of Australia`s national treaty, including submission to Parliament and review by the Australian Parliament`s Standing Joint Committee on Contracts (JSCOT). The new allies` agreement will include cooperation on nuclear-powered submarines, AI and advanced defense technology. Dutton stressed that Australia was not seeking nuclear weapons and that the submarines would be conventionally armed, adding that the agreement was consistent with Australia`s international obligations, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. He also stated that ENNPIA only allows the exchange of information on naval nuclear propulsion and that no nuclear equipment can be transferred under it. In the meantime, Section 1F states that any access authorization will be reviewed regularly, as well as a re-examination as a matter of priority, in the event that new information becomes apparent indicating that the release poses a risk to the safety of an individual. Section 1G states that an effective link must be maintained between the national agencies responsible for national security and the agencies responsible for determining the release and implementation of the programme in order to ensure prompt notification of all information affecting previously granted authorisations. Australia, dubbed an “adversary” and “dog” of the United States in China`s Global Times, is likely to bear the brunt of China`s anger over economic sanctions, adding to the tariffs and other restrictions Beijing has already imposed on many Australian exports amid other bilateral pressures. Relations between China and Australia have been so cold that there have been no formal ministerial contacts between China and Australia since the beginning of 2020.
Harding: The agreement will push the UK to work more closely with Australia and the US on challenges related to the Indo-Pacific region and increase interoperability with a close partner. This is in line with the stated interest in getting more involved in the Indo-Pacific region and working more closely with the United States and its allies in the region. In the case of this agreement, the UK will strategically use a comparative advantage to play a key role without depleting resources that could be used elsewhere. Freeman: China has stepped up its missions to assert its territorial and maritime claims throughout the region. The activities of the Chinese Air Force around Taiwan have increased particularly dramatically. Factors underlying the increase in Chinese military activity around Taiwan include Beijing`s desire to demonstrate to the Chinese public its commitment and ability to restore control over the island, and its opposition to expanding official contacts between Washington and Taipei. Galic: On the one hand, the agreement certainly underscores the long-term commitment to the region that the U.S. has tried to project, which should appeal to allies like Japan and Taiwan, who welcomed the announcement. Implementation of the nuclear submarine agreement is expected to take years, and the enhanced security partnership between the three countries goes beyond submarines and includes cooperation on new technologies and other capabilities. President Biden announced a new security partnership between the United States, Britain and Australia, focused on the Indo-Pacific region.
It is about sharing nuclear submarine technology with Australia. “It`s about investing and updating our greatest source of power, our alliances, to better deal with the threats of today and tomorrow,” Biden said of the White House between two observers who showed other world leaders. .