Australia has announced its intention to build nuclear-powered submarines as part of a landmark security pact with the US and the UK.
In the historic AUKUS agreement, the three countries entered into a new trilateral security partnership that will strengthen the countries’ security and defence interests together.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the three countries would be undergoing an 18-month investigation into building nuclear-powered submarines in Adelaide.
However, he states that the country was not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons or establish a civil nuclear capability and will continue to meet all of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden joined in on the joint virtual announcement, with the UK Prime Minister stating the AUKUS pact aims to preserve peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
“We’re opening a new chapter in our friendship,” he said.
“The first task of this partnership will be to help Australia acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.”
The 18-month consultation period will determine workforce and training requirements, production timelines and safeguards on nuclear non-proliferation agreements. The deal has marked the first move for Australia to acquire submarines with nuclear propulsion systems.
President Biden said it was a historic step in deepening and formalising cooperation between the three nations.
“We all recognise the imperative of ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific over the long-term,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the AUKUS agreement was a next-generation partnership that was built on a strong foundation of trust.
“We have always seen the world through a similar lens,” he said.
“We have always believed in a world that favours freedom, that respects human dignity, the rule of law, the independence of sovereign states and the peaceful fellowship of nations.”
However, not all welcome the news of the trilateral partnership. Chinese Washington embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said countries should not build exclusionary blocs that are targeting or harming the interests of third parties.
“In particular, they should shake off their Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice,” he said.
NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was also critical of the partnership, stating that Australia’s new submarine fleet would not be welcome in the country’s waters. This follows New Zealand’s strong stance on being nuclear-free.
The announcement of the nuclear submarines under the agreement was followed by the scrapping of the $90 billion French submarine deal, which has been plagued by delays and cost blowouts.
Federal cabinet ministers were summoned to a secret meeting in Canberra on Wednesday before the AUKUS announcement after being granted border exemptions to enter the ACT.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese and three other members of his front bench also received briefings.
With news from AAP.