The US, UK and Australia have announced a replacement trilateral security alliance for the Indo-Pacific to require on the threats of the 21st century and permit for greater sharing of defence capabilities, including help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines, in an attempt to counter China’s growing power and military presence within the strategically vital region. Unveiling the ambitious security initiative, US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison during a joint statement said their move will promote stability within the Indo-Pacific and support of their shared values and interests.
“We are taking another historic step to deepen and formalise cooperation among all three of our nations because we all recognise the imperative of ensuring peace and stability within the Indo-Pacific over the future ,” President Biden said at the virtual launch of the new alliance referred to as AUKUS on Wednesday. Speaking from the East Room of the White House, Biden said that the three countries will update and enhance their shared ability to require on the threats of the 21st century, even as they did within the 20th century, together.
The us , Australia, uk have long been faithful and capable partners and we’re even closer today. Today, we’re taking another historic step to deepen and formalise cooperation among all three of our nations because we all recognise the imperative of ensuring peace stability within the Indo-Pacific over the future , he said. Interestingly, the announcement of AUKUS has come every week before a gathering of Quad leaders to be hosted by US President Biden in Washington on September 24. The meeting also will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of Australia Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
Under the AUKUS alliance, the three nations have agreed to reinforce the event of joint capabilities and technology sharing, foster deeper integration of security and defence-related science, technology, industrial bases and provide chains. Under the primary major initiative of AUKUS, Australia would build a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines with the assistance of the US and therefore the UK, a capability aimed toward promoting stability within the Indo-Pacific region.
The UK, Australia and US are natural allies while we could also be separated geographically, our interests and values are shared, said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who joined from Downing Street in London for the virtual address before a joint statement was released. The AUKUS alliance will bring us closer than ever, creating a replacement defence partnership and driving jobs and prosperity. This partnership will become increasingly vital for defending our interests within the Indo-Pacific region and, by extension, protecting our people back reception , he said.
Johnson said the aim of the new partnership was working hand in glove and to preserve security and stability within the Indo-Pacific. We’re opening a replacement chapter in our friendship. and therefore the first task of this partnership are going to be to assist Australia acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.
“Emphasising, of course, that the submarines in question are going to be powered by nuclear reactors not armed with nuclear weapons. And our work are going to be fully in line with our nonproliferation obligations, he said. All three leaders insisted that the submarines would be nuclear-powered and therefore the effort is geared towards ensuring peace within the Indo-Pacific region.
AUKUS will enhance our contribution to our growing network of partnerships within the Indo-Pacific region. our ASEAN friends, our bilateral strategic partners, the Quad, Five Eyes countries, and in fact our dear Pacific family. the primary major initiative of AUKUS are going to be to deliver a nautilus fleet for Australia, Australian Prime Minister Morrison said. Over subsequent 18 months, the three countries will work together to hunt to work out the simplest way forward to realize this, he said.
This will include an intense examination of what we’d like to try to to to exercise our nuclear stewardship responsibilities here in Australia. We shall build these submarines in Adelaide, Australia in close cooperation with the uk and therefore the us , he said. Australia isn’t seeking to accumulate nuclear weapons or establish a civil nuclear capability, Morrison asserted, adding that the US will still meet all its nuclear nonproliferation obligations.
President Biden said AUKUS will compile sailors, scientists, and industries to take care of and expand their edge and military capabilities and important technologies like cyber, AI , quantum technologies, and undersea domains. Now, as a key project, under AUKUS, we are launching consultations with Australia’s acquisition of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines for its navy, he said.
Conventionally armed. i would like to be exceedingly clear about this. We’re not talking about nuclear-armed submarines. These are conventionally armed submarines that are powered by nuclear reactors. This technology is proven, it’s safe, and therefore the refore the us and the UK are operating nuclear-powered submarines for many years , Biden said. The agreement reflects the unique level of trust and cooperation between our three countries, who already share extensive intelligence through the Five Eyes alliance, Downing Street said.
Recognising our deep defence ties, built over decades, today we also start further trilateral collaboration under AUKUS to reinforce our joint capabilities and interoperability. These initial efforts will specialise in cyber capabilities, AI , quantum technologies, and extra undersea capabilities, reads the joint statement issued by the leaders. Through AUKUS, our governments will strengthen the power of every to support our security and defence interests, building on our longstanding and ongoing bilateral ties.
We will promote deeper information and technology sharing. we’ll foster deeper integration of security and defence-related science, technology, industrial bases, and provide chains. And especially , we’ll significantly deepen cooperation on a variety of security and defence capabilities, it adds. The leaders said their new endeavour is aimed toward helping sustain peace and stability within the Indo-Pacific region.
The initial scoping phase for the new alliance is predicted to require 18 months. the united kingdom said that because it has built and operated world-class nuclear-powered submarines for over 60 years, it’ll bring “deep expertise and experience” to the primary project under AUKUS. the united kingdom and US, already leading members of NATO defence alliance, said the work done by AUKUS will support shared goals in new regions, promoting stability and protecting our people against new and emerging threats.
Highlighting this growing Indo-Pacific tilt, the united kingdom government pointed to HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier’s deployment to the region alongside personnel and equipment from the US. Last month, the Carrier Strike Group undertook a series of exercises with countries, including India and Australia, to create interoperability with like-minded partners, it said.
At the September 24 Quad summit, Biden, Modi, Morrison and Suga would discuss promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific, addressing the climate crisis and deepening their ties and advancing practical cooperation on areas like combatting COVID-19, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday. The evolving situation within the Indo-Pacific region within the wake of China’s increasing military muscle-flexing has become a serious point among leading global powers. The US has been favouring making Quad a security architecture to see China’s growing assertiveness.
Biden has made countering China a central aspect of his policy as tensions grow over the South China Sea and Taiwan, and has said he wants American allies on board. Beijing claims most of the 1.3 million area unit South China Sea as its sovereign territory. China has been building military bases on artificial islands within the region also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
China has built up and militarised many of the islands and reefs it controls within the region. Both maritime areas within the South and East China seas are stated to be rich in minerals, oil and other natural resources and also are vital to global trade.
