US President Joe Biden has said the UK and USA nuclear attack submarine deal represents a "historic day" in the countries "partnership". Biden met UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in San Diego yesterday (March 13) to announce the next stage of the Aukus plan.
The pact will see the three countries produce a fleet of next-generation nuclear-powered attack submarines, with the aim of counteracting China's influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Biden tweeted today (March 14): "This is a historic day for the U.S.-U.K. partnership. Together, we are taking steps to build a more secure future for the Indo-Pacific and the world by developing our close defense cooperation. We’ll continue to confront shared challenges as friends and partners."
Speaking at a press briefing to announce the details of a trilateral submarine agreement at the Point Loma naval base he said: “Today, as we stand at the inflection point of history, where the hard work of enhancing deterrence and promoting stability is going to affect the prospect of peace for decades to come, the United States can ask to have no better partners in the Indo-Pacific, where so much of our shared future will be written.
“Forging this new partnership, we are showing again how democracies can deliver our own security and prosperity, not just for us but the entire world. Today we are announcing the steps to carry out our first projects under Aukus and develop Australia’s conventionally-armed nuclear-powered submarine capacity.”
Mr Biden, setting out closer collaboration between the three countries, said Australian personnel would “embed” with US and UK crews this year, and have bases on shipyards to increase their knowledge of the technology behind the nuclear-powered submarines.
He added: “Later this decade, we will also be establishing a rotational presence of US and UK nuclear-powered subs in Australia to help develop the workforce Australia is going to need to build and maintain its fleet.”
The Aukus programme will result in closer collaboration between the three nations. Beginning in 2023, Australian military and civilian personnel will embed with the US Navy and Royal Navy, and in the two countries’ industrial bases to accelerate the training of Australian personnel.
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The US plans to increase port visits by nuclear-powered submarines to Australia this year, with the United Kingdom increasing visits in 2026. From 2027, UK and US boats could be deployed on “forward rotation” to Australia to help develop training and expertise.
The three nations insisted that the deal did not increase the risk of nuclear proliferation. The vessels will carry conventional weapons and the nuclear reactors will be sealed shut and not require refuelling in their lifetimes.
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