Australia to acquire nuclear submarine fleet as part of historic partnership with US and UK to counter China's influence

[lost in melb.]

Australia is embarking on its most significant change of defence and strategic direction in decades, aiming to make the Navy's next submarine fleet nuclear-powered.

In a deal announced by US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prime Minister Scott Morrison, the US will share secret nuclear technology to help Australia in the switch to nuclear-powered boats.

https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/038ce311156a31ccd54924ab38bf6d06?impolicy=wcms_cro p_resize&cropH=406&cropW=727&xPos=45&yPos=128&width=862&height=485

The fleet will be the first initiative of a newly formed trilateral security partnership called AUKUS.

Mr Morrison said the "next generation" partnership would help ensure the region's safety.

"Our world is becoming more complex, especially here in our region, the Indo-Pacific," Mr Morrison said.

"This affects us all. The future of the Indo-Pacific will impact all our futures."

The deal does not extend to nuclear weapons, only the propulsion system, which has always been conventional diesel-electric in Australia's submarine classes

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-16/australia-nuclear-submarine-partnership-us-uk/100465814

[lost in melb.]

We have finally picked a side. Huge.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Andrew Mark Miller | Fox News


https://i.imgur.com/CzubxRg.jpg

France is reacting with anger after being left out of an agreement between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia to give Australia nuclear-powered submarines.

In a statement issued by French Minister Of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-yves Le Drian and Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly, the country said the decision announced Wednesday "is contrary to the letter and spirit of the cooperation that prevailed between France and Australia, based on a relationship of political trust as well as on the development of a very high-level defence industrial and technological base in Australia."

"The American choice to exclude a European ally and partner such as France from a structuring partnership with Australia, at a time when we are facing unprecedented challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, whether in terms of our values or in terms of respect for multilateralism based on the rule of law, shows a lack of coherence that France can only note and regret," the statement continued.

The statement went on to call the announcement "regrettable."

"The regrettable decision that has just been announced regarding the FSP program only reinforces the need to make the issue of European strategic autonomy loud and clear," the joint statement said. "There is no other credible way to defend our interests and our values in the world, including in the Indo-Pacific."

France added that it is the "only European nation present in the Indo-Pacific with nearly two million citizens and more than 7,000 military personnel."

Earlier in the day, U.S. President Biden joined British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in announcing the creation of an enhanced trilateral security partnership, called "AUKUS," which involves sharing highly sensitive nuclear submarine technology with Australia.

"As the first initiative under AUKUS, recognizing our common tradition as maritime democracies, we commit to a shared ambition to support Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy," the White House said. "Today, we embark on a trilateral effort of 18 months to seek an optimal pathway to deliver this capability. We will leverage expertise from the United States and the United Kingdom, building on the two countries’ submarine programs to bring an Australian capability into service at the earliest achievable date."

During the announcement, Biden referred to France as having a "substantial Indo-Pacific presence" and a "key partner and ally in strengthening the security and prosperity of the region."

"The United States looks forward to working closely with France and other key countries as we go forward," Biden said.

The announcement of the partnership is widely perceived as a challenge to China’s authority in the region, and the Chinese embassy quickly responded to the news.

"Exchanges and cooperation between countries should help expand mutual understanding and trust," the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. said in a statement. "Countries should do more things that are conducive to solidarity and cooperation among countries and regional peace and stability. Meanwhile they should not build exclusionary blocs targeting or harming the interests of third parties. In particular, they should shake off their Cold-War mentality and ideological prejudice."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News.

[lost in melb.]

Our last submarines were Swedish and they were a noisy disaster. These French ones were going to be the same technology.

Time to get some decent & quiet, subs. And also time to step up as a proper military partner.

[Griffin]

yeah, I hear those Swedes are screamers :rolleyes:

[Teh One Who Knocks]

In the town where I was born
Lived a man who sailed to sea
And he told us of his life
In the land of submarines
So we sailed on to the sun
'Til we found a sea of green
And we lived beneath the waves
In our Swedish submarine

We all live in a Swedish submarine
Swedish submarine, Swedish submarine
We all live in a Swedish submarine
Swedish submarine, Swedish submarine

[Pony]

In other news Biden decided to do the same for Iran and North Korea so he's not perceived as racist.

[lost in melb.]

The fallout is coming...

‘Deeply concerned’: Indonesia uneasy about Australian nuclear subs

Australia’s plan to arm itself with a fleet of nuclear-propelled submarines to combat the rising threat of China has been met with alarm by near neighbour Indonesia.

South-east Asia’s largest country has expressed unease about Australia’s dramatic enhancing of its military, notably its intention to use US technology to build eight nuclear-powered submarines as part of the new three-way defence alliance with Washington DC and London.

Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo has maintained good ties with China despite issues over sovereignty near the Natuna Islands.
Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo has maintained good ties with China despite issues over sovereignty near the Natuna Islands. AP

In a statement issued on Friday, Indonesia foreign affairs spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said Jakarta had taken note of Australia’s decision to acquire nuclear-powered submarines and stressed “Indonesia is deeply concerned over the continuing arms race and power projection in the region”.

“Indonesia stresses the importance of Australia’s commitment to continue meeting all of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations,” the statement said.

“Indonesia calls on Australia to maintain its commitment towards regional peace, stability and security in accordance with the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation [the code of conduct between the Association of South-east Asian Nations].


“Indonesia encourages Australia and other parties concerned to advance dialogue in settling any differences peacefully. In this regard, Indonesia underscores the respect for international law, including UNCLOS 1982 [United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea], in maintaining peace and security in the region.”

https://i.ibb.co/cYp3c5z/Screenshot-20210917-154300-Chrome-Beta.jpg (https://ibb.co/qJ4jMGb)
https://i.ibb.co/3RCDprh/Screenshot-20210917-154250-Chrome-Beta.jpg (https://ibb.co/J3sfvBk)

[lost in melb.]

Jacinda Ardern and New Zealand ban any future Australian nuclear submarine

Jacinda Ardern has issued a blunt message to Australia following its nuclear submarine announcement, saying they are not welcome.

Mathew Murphy
2 min read
September 16, 2021 - 10:45PM

A new grouping, known as AUKUS, will advise Australia of the best way to acquire nuclear-powered submarine capability.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern sent a strong message after Australia’s new nuclear-powered submarine partnership with the UK and US was announced, saying they would not be welcome in internal waters.

A new Indo-Pacific security partnership announced by US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, will see the United States and UK provide Australia with the technology and capability to deploy nuclear-powered submarines in a bid to push back against China’s growing power and influence.

https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/a1d0b6bebe82b79b110d2dfebf1edee3
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.



Under the deal, Australia would join an elite group of nations operating nuclear-powered subs that includes France, China, India and Russia.

Ms Ardern said she spoke to Mr Morrison about the announcement and let him know that nuclear submarines would not be allowed into New Zealand waters, which has been a nuclear-free zone since 1984.

“I discussed the arrangement with Prime Minister Morrison last night,” Ms Ardern said at a news conference.

“Certainly they couldn’t come into our internal waters,” she said, “No vessels that are partially or fully powered by nuclear energy is able to enter our internal borders.”

New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern said Australian Prime Minster, Scott Morrison was well versed in her position on nuclear submarines.
New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern said Australian Prime Minster, Scott Morrison was well versed in her position on nuclear submarines.
Ms Ardern said New Zealand was not approached to be a part of the AUKUS alliance “but nor did I expect us to be.”

“Prime Minister Morrison and indeed all partners are very well versed and understand our position on nuclear-powered vessels and nuclear weapons. That of course means they understood our likely position on the establishment of nuclear-powered submarines and their use in the region,” she said.

“The anchor of this arrangement are nuclear-powered submarines and it will be very clear to all New Zealanders and to Australia why New Zealand would not wish to be a part of that project.”

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen.
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen.
The three-way nuclear submarine pact was welcome news however for Japan and Taiwan, both having been threatened by Beijing and North Korea respectively.

Taiwan – which considers itself to be an independent nation but is viewed by Beijing as a self-governing Chinese province – fears invasion from the mainland after Xi Jinping committed himself to “reunifying” the island in a 2019 speech, saying he reserves the right to use force if necessary.

Japan has been threatened from China over several disputed islands and by its patrols, which are skirting much closer to Japanese waters.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C) and Katsunobu Kato
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C) and Katsunobu Kato
Japan is also in a precarious position with North Korea, which now has nuclear-capable cruise missiles that can reach almost the entire Japanese mainland.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato was unsurprisingly supportive about the new pact and that nuclear powered submarines would be parked in the region by an ally.

“The strengthening of security and defence co-operation among the United States, Britain and Australia is important for the peace and security of the Indo-Pacific region,” he said in a news conference.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian.
China was less receptive to the news that Australia would be provided with at least eight nuclear-powered submarines.

Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian denounced what he said was “Cold War zero-sum thinking” which threatened stability in the region and “intensifies the arms race.”

“The export of highly sensitive nuclear submarine technology by the United States and Britain to Australia once again proves that they use nuclear exports as a tool of geopolitical games and adopt double standards, which is extremely irresponsible,” MrZhao said.

French President Emmanuel Macron (2/L) and then Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (C) standing on the deck of HMAS Waller, a Collins-class submarine operated by the Royal Australian Navy, at Garden Island in Sydney in 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron (2/L) and then Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (C) standing on the deck of HMAS Waller, a Collins-class submarine operated by the Royal Australian Navy, at Garden Island in Sydney in 2018.
France also hit out at the deal, largely because Australia tore up its $90 billion contract to buy 12 conventionally-powered subs, having only spent $2 billion so far.

More Coverage
Australia confirms ‘historic’ nuclear deal
Foreign minister Yves Le-Drian said France had been “stabbed in the back”.

Defence minister Florence Parly added: “The American choice to exclude a European ally and partner such as France … shows a lack of coherence that France can only note and regret.”

Read related topics:
Jacinda Ardern

[Godfather]

Seems like an overreaction. These ships are driven by nuclear power but they won't carry any nuclear warheads, correct? Everyone should chill :lol:

[lost in melb.]

Seems like an overreaction. These ships are driven by nuclear power but they won't carry any nuclear warheads, correct? Everyone should chill :lol:

New Zealand won't allow anything with nuclear material to dock.

[Griffin]

so much for wearing my old Timex watch there... :meh: