Opinion
AUKUS is still a toddler with a long way to go
The unfortunate fact is that since the announcement of the nuclear-powered submarine agreement two years ago, none of the three partners has had to do anything hard to make it a reality.
Michael ShoebridgeContributorSeptember 15, 2021 seems a long time ago in AUKUS land. That’s when Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison stood with US President Joe Biden and British leader Boris Johnson to announce this new defence technology partnership that is all about deterring China from beginning a war – over Taiwan or elsewhere in our contested region.
Since that day, we’ve seen many tri-national working groups of officials formed and meeting furiously. A new Australian Submarine Agency has been brought into being whose staffing is expanding day to day (over 300 last time I looked). A different set of the three nations’ leaders – still Biden but joined now by Rishi Sunak and Anthony Albanese – met in San Diego in March to tell us the “optimal pathway” for Australia to get eight nuclear submarines.
Subscribe to gift this article
Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.
Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber?
Introducing your Newsfeed
Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you.
Find out moreRead More
Latest In Foreign affairs & security
Fetching latest articles