Australia confirms landmark nuclear submarine deal and it’s ‘China’s worst nightmare’

Australia’s submarine program will “go nuclear” under a new defence pact with the US and UK that’s been described as “China’s worst nightmare”.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a landmark deal with the US and UK for Australia’s submarine program to “go nuclear” under a defence pact that has been described as “China’s worst nightmare”.

The new grouping to be known as AUUKUS will advise Australia on how to identify the best way to acquire nuclear-powered submarine capability and share advanced technologies involving artificial intelligence.

The pact was announced on Thursday morning via a joint press conference with Mr Morrison, US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Speaking to reporters hours after the announcement, Mr Morrison said Australia had entered a new era, with “new challenges”.

“The relatively benign environment we have enjoyed in many decades in our region is behind us,” Mr Morrison said from Canberra.

“We have entered, no doubt, a new era, with new challenges for Australia and for our partners and friends and countries right across our region.

“This challenge will require more of us in Australia and all of us who share a common vision about peace and stability and security in our region so all nations can enjoy the fellowship of our region, the trade and the opportunities for our peoples so they can realise what they want for their countries just as we want for our country.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

Mr Morrison described the AUUKUS grouping as a “forever partnership between the oldest and most trusted of friends”.

He said the partnership would “enable Australia to protect our national security interests to keep Australians safe and to work with our partners across the region to achieve the stability and security of our region”.

Mr Morrison said the first major initiative of AUUKUS will be to deliver a nuclear powered submarine fleet for Australia, with the three nations working together over the next 18 months to determine “the best way forward to achieve this.”

The submarines will be built in Adelaide, in close co-operation with the United Kingdom and the United States.

Collins class submarines in West Australian waters.

However, Mr Morrison insisted that Australia was “not seeking to establish nuclear weapons or establish a civil nuclear capability” and will continue to meet all of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations.

The PM addressed the “disappointment” France was feeling after Australia made the decision to axe the $90 billion program to build 12 attack-class submarines there.

“We will not be continuing with the attack class submarine program and have advised Naval Group and the government of France and President (Emmanuel) Macron of that decision. I want to stress that France remains an incredibly important partner in the Pacific. There is few if any other country around the world which understands the importance of the Pacific and has been as committed to the Pacific as France,” Mr Morrison said.

“I look forward and I hope to see us continue once we move past what is obviously a very difficult and disapointing decision for France. I understand that. I respect it. But as a Prime Minister, I must make decisions that are in Australia's national security. I know that France would do the same. And I know ultimately that will be understood.”

At this morning’s announcement, alongside Mr Biden and Mr Johnson, Mr Morrison said the partnership was to deliver a “safer and more secure” Indo-Pacific region.

“Our world is becoming more complex, especially here in our region – the Indo-Pacific. This affects us all. The future of the Indo-Pacific will impact all our futures,” Mr Morrison said.

“To meet these challenges, to help deliver the security and stability our region needs, we must now take our partnership to a new level. A partnership that seeks to engage – not to exclude. To contribute, not take. And to enable and empower – not to control coerce.

“So AUUKUS is born, a new trilateral relationship between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. AUUKUS – 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.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, US President Joe Biden, and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson hold a press conference to announce a new defence agreement

Mr Biden said creating AUUKUS was a “historic step to deepen and formalise co-operation among all three of our nations.”

He said the aim of the agreement was to ensure long term peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

“Because the future of each of our nation, and indeed, the world, depends on a free and open Indo-Pacific, enduring and flourishing in the decades ahead,” Mr Biden said.

“This is about investing in our greatest source of strength. Our alliances and updating them to better meet the threats of today and tomorrow.”

The UK Prime Minister said this agreement would open a new chapter in the “friendship” between the three nations.

“This will be one of the most complex and technically demanding projects in the world,” Mr Johnson said.

“Lasting for decades and requiring the most advanced technology. It will draw on the expertise that the UK has acquired over generations dating back to the launch of the Royal Navy’s first nuclear submarine over 60 years ago.”

US President Joe Biden speaks East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. Picture: Brendan Smialowski/AFP

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the agreement would open a new chapter in the ‘friendship’ between the nations.

The landmark announcement came after senior ministers rushed back to Canberra on Wednesday night for national security meetings ahead of the major announcement.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese and several Labor frontbenchers were also briefed with Defence Minister Peter Dutton and Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne, who are overseas, dialling in for the meetings.

Diplomatic and defence sources had suggested it could involve operating US submarines out of Perth’s HMAS Stirling.

But there was also speculation that the British Government could be involved to support Australia secure the technology required to service nuclear submarines.

Marise Payne and Peter Dutton dialled in for the urgent meeting.

The proposal for Australia to tear up existing contracts for French subs and purchase US nuclear technology has previously been described as “China’s Worst Nightmare” in the region – which could “tip the military balance in Asia.”

In June, the Prime Minister held discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron over growing concerns regarding the $90 billion project that will not deliver submarines until 2030.

The Australian Naval Institute has recently been promoting the option as the best ‘Plan B’ for Australia’s troubled submarine program.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison meets with President Xi Jinping during the G20 in Osaka, Japan in 2019.

“With regional tensions increasing, then building our own one-off type submarines which will arrive in the early 2030s is not good enough. We have no guarantee they will work,’’ the article stated.

“When we built the Collins class submarines (at exorbitant expense) they did not work properly for several years. It is only now – after decades of operation – that they are reasonably functional.

“Submarines are the ultimate deterrent and attack weapon: their location is hopefully unknown, and they can strike at targets without warning. But we need to expand beyond the capabilities of the Collins, and also the French Attack boats which we should abandon.

“Instead we should buy 12 of a proven design which is already in the water. We want long-range hunter-killer vessels. We also want them to be able to stay submerged for long periods to avoid detection. Nuclear does this in spades.”

The Prime Minister is scheduled to fly to Washington next week for talks with the US President. He has recently been jetting between Sydney and Canberra for national security meetings that his office said could not be conducted remotely.