AUKUS
- July 16, 2023
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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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.