Highlights
Australia signs a key deal in nuclear submarine alliance, AUKUS.
- A trilateral security pact was announced in September this year between the three countries – the US, UK, and Australia.
- The defence pact was signed to counter growing Chinese aggression in the Indo-pacific region and the growing tension between China and the US
After a historic defence pact which unveiled in September this year between the United States, UK, and Australia, Australia has formally boarded on the highly contested programme to provide its naval forces with nuclear submarines.
On Monday, Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton joined US and British dignitaries in signing an agreement agreeing to the exchange of sensitive "naval nuclear propulsion information" between the three countries.
The agreement is the first to be signed in public domain since the three countries announced the formation of the alliance.
The trilateral security pact, AUKUS has come into existence to confront strategic tensions in the Pacific, where rivalry between China and the US is increasingly growing.
The alliance between the three countries which has angered China is viewed as a more hard-edged military approach towards Beijing.
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US President Joe Biden had earlier stated that the US will share secret nuclear technology to assist Australia in shifting to nuclear-powered boats.
The strategic partnership is likely to bolster Australia’s position in the Indo-Pacific to counter China aggression the Indo-Pacific region. China, which is Australia’s biggest trading partner, enjoyed close ties with Australia in the past. However, relationship between the duo got strained in recent years amidst rising political tensions. Besides, China is often criticised for adopting expansionary attitude in disputed territories like the South China Sea.
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