In a bid to counter China, Australia, United Kingdom (UK) and the US have announced an enhanced trilateral security partnership called AUKUS to deepen diplomatic, security, and defence cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
The trilateral security partnership was announced in a virtual meeting between US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Morrison. “The endeavour we launch today will help sustain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” the Joint statement on the formation of trilateral defence partnership said.
Australian PM Scott Morrison on Wednesday said that the first major initiative of the ‘AUKUS’ will be to deliver a nuclear-powered submarine fleet for Australia.
“We will seek to determine the best way forward to achieve this. We intend to build these submarines in Australia in close cooperation with UK and US,” he added.
The Australian Prime Minister further asserted that the AUKUS is a new enhanced security partnership between Australia, UK, and the US. “Ït is a partnership where our technology, our scientists, our industry, and defence force all working together to deliver a safer and more secure region,” he said.
Speaking at the virtual launch, Biden said that France, in particular, has already a substantial Indo-Pacific presence as a key partner and ally in strengthening the security and prosperity of the region. The US looks forward to working closely with France and other key countries as we go forward, he added.
Meanwhile, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said that Australian nuclear submarines will be banned from the country’s waters.
