The Secret Behind AU involvement in the AUKUS – Australia defended its decision to cancel a multibillion-dollar submarine order with France in favour of a deal with the United States and Britain. As a result, a new defence agreement in which these countries will assist Australia with the deployment of nuclear-powered submarines in the Pacific has been signed. Such of this notion lead into questions “why are nuclear submarines such a big deal and why this new agreement seems significant?”
To get more detail on this topic “the secret behind Australia's involvement in the AUKUS” see the following article.
We will begin this session by defining what AUKUS actually is. AUKUS is a trilateral security agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States for the Indo-Pacific region announced on September 15, 2021. Under the terms of the agreement, the U.S and the U.K will aid Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines. The goal is for Australia's two partners to provide access to cutting-edge military technology, including futuristic capabilities such as artificial intelligence and quantum technologies. As confirmed by President Morrison on his remarks
Remarks by President Morrison:
“a new enhanced trilateral security partnership between Australia, the U.K, and the U.S. AUKUS: 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…..”
Even though the presidents of these three countries did not say so, the agreement is considered as a step toward restraining China's aggressive manoeuvres in the Pacific, particularly around the South China Sea, where it has expansive territorial claims.
Another questions is what makes nuclear submarines seems to be paramount?
This is due to the fact that a nuclear-powered submarine allows a navy to reach fire strikes from a great distance out into the ocean. Unlike conventional one, which are often thought to be useful for defensive purposes, a nuclear-powered submarine's capacity to travel vast distances at a faster speed without being noticed allows a nation to protect its interests far from its coastlines.
To be precise on the differences, it can be noted that the conventional and Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) subs need to emerge to the surface to recharge their batteries using the diesel engine. The diesel engine also propels the vessel on the surface. This is because the fuel cells of AIP can only be charged at on-land stations, not while at sea. Interestingly, the conventional is so much different compared to a nuclear one. What marks the significant distinction is that its nuclear-powered propulsion gives the submarine a near infinite capacity to stay dived. Since it is propelled by a nuclear-powered engine rather than by batteries, it does not requires to come to the surface at all, except to restore supplies for the crews. Therefore, these advantages make it possible for a navy to deploy these submarines quicker and at farther distances in which they can move silently without being spotted.
In the context of the AUKUS agreement, nuclear-powered submarines will provide the Royal Australian Navy the potential to sail into the South China Sea, since the three nations have expressed concern about china's dominance in the region. Therefore, this pact seems to be essential to protect their assets and conduct patrols while increasing Western Security capabilities in the Pacific. Australia is strategically important because of its location on the Indo-pacific, a region of interest for both the U.K and the U.S. As an additional information, in the past, the United States merely shared its nuclear propulsion technology with the United Kingdom, as part of a nuclear power sharing agreement that the two countries have had in place since 1958. Also, the U.S navy already co-operates closely with both the U.K and Australia on joint exercises.
Moreover, the importance of this agreement lies on enhancing joint capabilities, deeper military interoperability and engagements between defence and foreign policy officials, and spur co-operation across many new and emerging fields such as cyber, applied AI, quantum technologies, and some undersea capabilities which are just a few of the other aspects of AUKUS. Additionally, the fundamental rationale of AUKUS is to bring existing allies and partners together, in addition to exponentially enhancing Australia's military capabilities. As a result, a global web of security arrangements will be created to counter China's massive and rapid global expansion. This is why AUKUS is focused on the Indo-Pacific region, which runs from the eastern Pacific to Africa's east coast.
