According to a new security agreement between Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom, the White House has announced that Australia will purchase three US nuclear submarines. The announcement precedes a summit of the three nations’ leaders scheduled for this week in California.
Prior to the US president, Joseph Biden, flying to San Diego to attend the meeting, national security advisor Jake Sullivan indicated on Monday that Australia will also have the option to buy two more of the nuclear submarines.
18 months have passed since the signing of the new agreement, known as AUKUS, which gives Australia access to nuclear-powered submarine technology.
The security agreement includes a promise to work together on developing capabilities for artificial intelligence, hypersonic weapons, and other cutting-edge technology as part of the three countries’ continued attempt to counteract Chinese military strength.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described China as “a structural issue for the world order” in an interview with NBC News on Sunday from California, where he had a meeting with his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, the day before Biden’s visit.
Beijing has charged the trio of adopting a “Cold War mentality” that could lead to further escalation on numerous occasions since the introduction of AUKUS.
The deal made public on Monday is a component of a multi-phased, long-term strategy that will include Australia as a full partner in the deployment of top-secret US nuclear technology, which was previously exclusively disclosed with the UK.
According to media reports, Australia and Britain intend to start building a new submarine model with US technology and backing after the sale of the Virginia-class submarines, which are expected to be worth $3 billion each.
According to The New York Times, Australia plans to give its navy those new ships in the 2040s.
According to the agreement, a fleet of US and British submarines will be stationed in Western Australia to assist in deterrence exercises and the training of Australian operators.
The three allies have made an ambitious step with the agreement, which will take years to fully realize, as they attempt to counter Beijing’s rapidly growing military might in the Pacific.
In order to expand its military, China has built a sophisticated naval force and created artificial islands that, according to analysts, it has transformed into bases.
After Canberra backed out of a previous agreement to replace its outdated fleet of diesel-powered submarines with $66 billion in non-nuclear French vessels, Australia’s participation in AUKUS sparked a brief but tense disagreement with France.
The Virginia-class submarines are roughly twice as long and can accommodate 132 crew members, compared to the Collins-class submarines that Australia plans to retire.
Also, the American ships have the ability to fire heavy cruise missiles while remaining practically permanently submerged.
China has complained that AUKUS breaches the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and runs the risk of starting an arms race.
According to Beijing, it is a “blatant” violation of the spirit of the treaty when nuclear weapons materials are transferred from a nuclear weapons state to a non-nuclear weapons state.
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing, “We urge the US, the UK, and Australia to forsake the Cold War mentality and zero-sum games, honor international commitments in good faith, and do more things that are favorable to regional peace and stability.
The argument has been countered by Australian officials, who claim that they are working to obtain nuclear-powered, not nuclear-armed submarines.
In order to “refill and fortify crucial ammunition stocks, modernize the UK’s nuclear industry, and fund the next phase of the AUKUS submarine program,” the UK pledged $6 billion in additional military financing over the following two years prior to Monday’s conference.
Longer-term spending increases for the defense budget are being explored, Downing Street said in a statement.
Before going to Monterey Park to talk about preventing gun violence, Biden will have separate talks with Albanese and Sunak on his trip to California. During the Lunar New Year celebrations in January, a terrible shooting occurred in the Californian city.
Then, Biden will go to Nevada to talk about his initiatives to cut the price of prescription medications.
Several fundraising events are planned to take place during the US president’s tour. Next month, Biden is anticipated to formally declare his intention to run for president again in 2024.
