AUKUS

AUKUS

Subject :International Relations

Section: Groupings

• A new trilateral security partnership for the Indo-Pacific between Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. (AUKUS) was formed.
• The security grouping AUKUS will focus on advancing strategic interests in the Indo­ Pacific region
• A central feature of the partnership would involve a trilateral 18-month effort to help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines which are quieter, more capable (than their conventional counterparts) and can be deployed for longer periods, needing to surface less frequently.
• The partnership would also involve a new architecture of meetings and engagements between the three countries and also cooperation across emerging technologies (applied AI, quantum technologies and undersea capabilities)
• Under the Aukus pact Australia is to get its first nuclear-powered subs – at least three – from the US.
• The allies will also work to create a new fleet using cutting-edge tech, including UK-made Rolls-Royce reactors.
• Beijing has strongly criticised the significant naval deal.
• Under the deal, Australian navy sailors will be sent to US and UK submarine bases from this year to learn how to use the nuclear-powered submarines.
• From 2027, the US and UK will also base a small number of nuclear submarines in Perth, Western Australia, before Canberra will buy three US-model Virginia-class submarines in the early 2030s – with options to purchase two more.
• After that, the plan is to design and build an entirely new nuclear-powered submarine for the UK and Australian navies – a model that is being called SSN-AUKUS.
• This attack craft will be built in Britain and Australia to a British design, but use technology from all three countries.