The United Kingdom has announced its intention to join Australia in a 50-year commitment to the nuclear-powered submarine pact with the United States. This move reinforces the agreement as the United States expresses uncertainty about its long-term role in the pact.
The new British-Australian treaty will provide support to both countries’ submarine programs for the next 50 years, creating tens of thousands of jobs. It is estimated that the deal could lead to up to 20 billion pounds (€23 billion, $27 billion) in British exports over the next 25 years.
British Defense Secretary John Healey, who is currently visiting Australia alongside Foreign Secretary David Lammy, emphasized the significance of the AUKUS partnership for Britain’s defense.
The AUKUS agreement, which was announced in 2021, plans for Australia to acquire at least three Virginia-class submarines from the United States within 15 years and eventually manufacture submarines of its own.
While the agreement is seen as a strategic move for the UK and Australia, critics in the US have raised concerns about why Washington is prioritizing the sale of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia instead of strengthening its own naval fleet. As concerns about China’s military expansion in the Indo-Pacific region grow, the US is currently reviewing its commitment to the pact and has urged Australia to increase its defense spending.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/uk-australia-to-deepen-aukus-treaty-and-economic-ties/a-73405048?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
