Australia has revealed a four-phase plan as part of a deal with the US and UK to acquire a fleet of eight nuclear-powered submarines. From this year Australian military and civilian personnel will embed with US and UK navys, within both countries’ submarine industrial bases.
Here’s what you need to know about the Aukus deal that has led to today’s announcements.
What is the Aukus deal?
The Aukus partnership was announced in 2021 as Australia sought to respond to China’s assertiveness in the Pacific. It involves Australia, the UK and the US, which is what the acronymn Aukus stands for. It’s an agreement to operate a new generation of nuclear-powered submarines, based on a British design, in an attempt to modernise navys.
The new vessels will go into in operation in the late 2030s, following a construction phase that will create thousands of jobs in the UK. Australia will begin construction works on the shipyard required to build nuclear-powered submarines in Osborne, South Australia, this year.
The UK Government is also uneasy about China’s actions in the Pacific and published its updated integrated review of foreign and security policy on Monday, which highlights China’s “more aggressive stance”.
How did other countries react to Aukus?
The deal caused a diplomatic rift with France when it was announced as the country had expected to supply diesel-powered submarines to the Canberra government. In addition, Beijing has strongly criticised the deal. On Tuesday, its foreign ministry accused the three nations of “walking further and further down the path of error and danger”.
China’s UN mission had earlier also accused the Western allies of setting back nuclear non-proliferation efforts.
But US President Joe Biden said the deal was aimed at bolstering peace in the region. He stressed the submarines would be “nuclear-powered, not nuclear-armed”, and wouldn’t jeopardise Australia’s commitment to being a nuclear-free country.
He said the three nations stood at an “inflection point in history” and argued that in “forging this new partnership, we’re showing again how democracies can deliver our own security and prosperity – and not just for us but for the entire world”.
Australia’s prime minister said the Aukus plan marked “a new chapter” in the relationship between Australia, the US and the UK.
“The Aukus agreement we confirm here in San Diego represents the biggest single investment in Australia’s defence capability in our history,” Anthony Albanese said.
Without directly naming China as a source of concern, Albanese said the plan reflected a shared determination to ensure all countries could “act in their sovereign interests free from coercion”.
UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “This is a significant step forward for our three nations as we work together to contribute to security in the Indo-Pacific and across the world.
“Supporting thousands of jobs across the UK, with many in the north-west of England, this endeavour will boost prosperity across our country and showcase the prowess of British industry to our allies and partners.”
How much money is involved in the Aukus deal?
It has been estimated to cost up to $368 billion between now and the mid-2050s, with Australia spending $9 billion over the next four years.
The £5 billion extra for defence announced by Mr Sunak will partly help develop the next phase of the Aukus programme.
This will be followed by sustained funding over the next decade and will build on the £2 billion invested last year in the UK’s Dreadnought-class submarine programme.
