In September 2021, AUKUS, a trilateral pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, sent shockwaves across the West..

Australia announced it would withdraw from its submarine procurement deal with France and instead proceed with a trilateral pact that would have provided the Royal Australian Navy with conventionally armed but nuclear powered submarines.

The Australian government’s decision caused a diplomatic episode between Canberra and Paris, but also damaged relations between the United States and France. For the most part, relations have been repaired and work has begun on new submarines designed to deter and, if necessary, combat China.

SSN-AUKUS

Under the AUKUS agreement, the United States and the United Kingdom have agreed to share nuclear propulsion technology with Australia so that Canberra produces at least eight nuclear powered submarines. The United States and Great Britain have shared similar technology-sharing agreements, dating back to the 1950s.

The new class of submarine is called “SSN-AUKUS”and Britain and Australia would use this design for their submarines.

Construction of the submarines that will join the Royal Australian Navy will take place in Barrow-in-Furness, England, while the ships that will join the Royal Australian Navy will take place in South Australia, but with some components being built in England. .

“The AUKUS partnership, and the submarines we are building at a British shipyard, are living proof of our commitment to global security,” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a press release.

“This association was founded on our shared values ​​and strong desire to maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. And I am delighted that the plans we have announced today will enable Britain’s pioneering design expertise to protect our people and allies for generations to come,” the British Prime Minister added.

To get the Royal Australian Navy ready to operate its new submarines as quickly as possible, Australian sailors to join Royal Navy and US Navy submarinersthereby establishing a core operator that will help accelerate the training of the rest of the Australian crew.

As part of the AUKUS pact, US and UK submariners will increase their port visits to Australia, as well as their deployment in the region.

One of the biggest criticisms of the AUKUS pact is that it took time to produce submarines, leaving Australia without a significant capability for years.

To address this, Canberra has decided to extend the service life of its Collins class submarines, which will be replaced by the SSN AUKUS; The United States will also sell three of its current Virginia-class attack submarines to Australia, with an offer for two more.

More than submarines: AUKUS and China

The AUKUS Pact not only disrupted diplomatic relations between the United States and France and between Australia and France, but also sent shockwaves across the Indo-Pacific, where China was increasingly belligerent.

Australia has done well when it comes to China. Although it is by far Australia’s largest trading partner (more than a quarter of the trade pie), China has created enemies in the region with its aggressive behavior at home and abroad.

So the Australian government’s decision to join the US and UK in a pact designed specifically to deter and counter China is not a surprise, but a logical response to Beijing’s belligerence.