The leaders of Australia, the UK and the US announced the formation of a new Indo-Pacific security alliance called AUKUS on Wednesday, which will include the sharing of nuclear-powered submarine technology. The partnership will see the three countries share technology to improve their defensive capabilities, including cyber security, artificial intelligence and underwater systems. The move follows worsening relations between China and the US and other Western powers.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the three allies — already all members of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance along with Canada and New Zealand — were "opening a new chapter in our friendship and the first task of this partnership will be to help Australia acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines." Johnson emphasized that the vessels would "be powered by nuclear reactors, not armed with nuclear weapons, and our work will be fully in line with our [nuclear] non-proliferation obligations." Australia will become only the second country, after the UK, with which the US has shared nuclear propulsion technology. The announcement likely ends existing Australian plans to acquire new submarines from France. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the submarines would be built in Adelaide in close cooperation with the US and Britain. He also announced that the Australian Navy would be upgraded with longe range missiles including Tomahawk cruise missiles.
US officials were careful not to describe the partnership as a deterrent to China's ambitions in the region. Australian Prime Minister Morrison declared that there was an "open invitation for President Xi to discuss other matters." The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it would monitor the UK, US, Australian agreement, adding that it damaged regional peace and stability.
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