U.S., U.K. to help Australia build nuke subs
China, meet “AUKUS.”
The U.S., Britain and Australia on Wednesday announced a landmark security initiative in the Pacific to contend with China’s growing military might.
With the American and British help, the Australian Navy will build a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.
President Biden said the teamup — which was given the acronymic name AUKUS — represents a historic move meant to “deepen and formalize cooperation among all three of our nations, because we all recognize the imperative of ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific over the long term.”
Only a few countries have nuclear-powered submarines. The subs will not be armed with nuclear weapons, but they will be powered by nuclear reactors, Biden noted.
“This is about investing in our greatest source of strength — our alliances,” Biden said in a news conference, joined virtually by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
“It’s about connecting America’s existing allies and partners in new ways, and amplifying our ability to collaborate,” the president added.
The tech-sharing plan could have significant ramifications:
China claims much of the South China Sea, and its territorial assertions have been a point of tension in the region.
“Our world is becoming more complex,” Morrison said. “Especially here in our region.”
He said that the fate of the Indo-Pacific would have ramifications across the globe.
Johnson called the plan “momentous” and called Australia a “natural partner.”
“The U.K., Australia and the U.S. will be joined even more closely together,” Johnson said, “reflecting the measure of trust between us, the depth of our friendship, and the enduring strength of our shared values of freedom and democracy.”