Context:
The AUKUS alliance, comprising Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, is set to enter discussions for expanding its membership.
Relevance:
GS II: International Relations
Dimensions of the Article:
- What is AUKUS?
- Benefits of Nuclear Submarines for Australia:
What is AUKUS?
- A 2021 defence deal between Australia, the UK and the US
- Aims to help Australia deploy nuclear-powered submarines in the Pacific region
- Officially made to emphasise the countries’ “shared commitment to a free-and-open Indo-Pacific region”
- Intended to combat China’s ambitions in the region
- China has staked territorial claims across the resource-rich region and has multiple nuclear-capable submarines
- AUKUS was signed to bolster Australia’s naval power in the region
- The partnership was described by the then Australian PM Scott Morisson as a “partnership where our technology, our scientists, our industry, our defence forces are all working together to deliver a safer and more secure region that ultimately benefits all”.
Benefits of Nuclear Submarines for Australia:
- Near infinite endurance: Nuclear-powered submarines have an internal nuclear reactor, which gives them the ability to operate and stay submerged for long periods without needing to surface to recharge their batteries.
- Faster and more advanced: Typically, nuclear submarines are faster and more advanced than conventional submarines, which allows them to reach far out into the ocean and launch attacks on the enemy.
- Greater range and capability: Nuclear submarines like the SSN-AUKUS will give the Royal Australian Navy the capability to go into the South China Sea to protect its assets and conduct patrols, which it currently does not possess.
- Improved strategic position: The nuclear-powered submarines will enhance Australia’s strategic position in the Indo-Pacific region and provide a significant boost to its naval power.
- Commitment to non-proliferation: The new deal includes “clear commitments” to the countries’ respective nuclear non-proliferation obligations, ensuring that Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines will not be equipped with nuclear warheads.
-Source: Live Mint
