In addition, the USA, Great Britain and Australia want to develop a new generation of nuclear powered submarines.
Australia wants to buy up to five nuclear submarines from the United States. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Monday aboard Air Force One, Jake Sullivan, that the plan is to buy three Virginia-class nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarines, with an option to purchase two more. In addition, Australia, the USA and Great Britain want to jointly develop a new generation of nuclear submarines.
The announcement came ahead of a meeting between US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in San Diego, California. The three countries established the Indo-Pacific Security Alliance (AUKUS) in September 2021 – in response to China’s growing dominance in the region.
The central element of this alliance is nuclear submarines, with which Australia wants to modernize its fleet. In the course of founding AUKUS, Australia allowed a long-planned multibillion-dollar submarine deal with France to fall through. This led to angry responses from the French government and temporarily put an enormous strain on relations between Paris and Washington.
(APA)
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