AUKUS becoming a cornerstone of nation’s sovereignty

Complaints that the AUKUS deal means a loss of Australian sovereignty are misconceived. We are indeed giving up a measure of sovereignty in exchange for greater security, but that is the nature of alliances. It has always been the case that small nations need great and powerful friends if they are to survive in a dangerous world, and the notion that Australia could stand alone, fully sovereign but armed and neutral along Swiss lines, is impossible given our small population and large geography.

Neither is the Greens’ defence policy – seemingly that if we are nice to other countries, they will be nice to us – one that commends itself to grown-ups. It is true that alliances are entangling, but the only alternative to collective security under an alliance system would be if the UN Security Council would act under chapter VII of the UN charter to use the collective power of all UN members “to maintain or restore international peace and security”. And as Ukraine has once again demonstrated, a prudent defence policy would rely on the Tooth Fairy before expecting any meaningful help from the UN.

Glenn Simpson, Elanora, Qld

There are two aspects to be considered in the move by the government to procure US submarines.

The first concern is evaluating the defence procurement and its long-term fiscal repercussions. We have just signed a cheque for $300bn. It should keep everyone awake at night for years to come. It will mean less schools and hospitals.

Besides which, we seem a little gullible when it comes to defence spending – Americans and Brits love it when Australians come along with an open cheque book.

Moreover, our purchase also assumes no change in the nature of naval defence over a very long period. It is possible that the technological nature of war will change drastically in the coming years and submarines may well be more obsolete than first considered.

Second there is the harping criticism of former prime minister Paul Keating – maybe he is right. Have we really thought about all the options? We are choosing the US and the UK in a world where the strategic balance of power has changed. We are making enemies and have tied ourselves to past allegiances. We are yet to overcome our colonial past and Anglo-Celtic bias. There are alternatives.

James Athanasou, Maroubra, NSW

Paul Kelly says Labor under the judgment of Anthony Albanese and the determination of Defence Minister Richard Marles has become a party of conviction in AUKUS (“AUKUS compact shows Labor’s new conviction”, 15/3). If only Labor showed the same conviction when it comes to the nation’s energy security, because defence and energy are inextricably linked. President Xi Jinping knows this and that is why he is rapidly increasing China’s coal-fired power generation.

But the Albanese government is going in the opposite direction with its policy to replace our coal-fired power stations with wind turbines and solar panels. There is no way we can defend ourselves without the backup of secure, reliable, industrial-strength energy that coal-fired power provides.

While Albanese and Marles are to be congratulated for strengthening Australia’s defence capabilities with AUKUS, they must now demonstrate the same determination to strengthen our energy security by safeguarding the long-term future of our coal-fired power stations because without them we will have no hope of defending ourselves against a belligerent country that may set its sights on us.

Dale Ellis, Innisfail, Qld

I congratulate both our major political parties for having the courage to take us into the AUKUS agreement. We as a nation cannot risk relying on our own resources to protect our sovereign borders. Given that we now accept the use of nuclear energy to power our submarines, it is time review our policy on the use of nuclear power to provide a low-cost alternative to our energy-generation needs. We have the uranium and will soon have a high-level nuclear waste facility. It’s time!

GJ Pratt, Maldon, Vic

Our future submarines are being powered by emissions-free advanced small modular reactors. Perhaps they could be used to provide heat for domestic use and electrical power for the grid while in port. This should please even the Greens activists and also reduce power bills.

Bernard Kelly, Gosford, NSW