AUKUS New Deal

Syllabus: GS2/Regional Groupings

Context

• Australia had signed a deal to allow the exchange of nuclear secrets and material with the United States and Britain.

About

• It is a key step toward equipping its navy with nuclear-powered submarines.
• It binds the three countries to security arrangements for the transfer of sensitive U.S. and U.K. nuclear material and knowhow as part of the tripartite 2021 AUKUS security accord.

Major Highlights

• It specifies that the agreement will remain in force until December 31, 2075, but any party can exit it with a one-year written notice. 
• In the event of a breach or termination, the remaining countries can demand the return or destruction of any exchanged information, material, or equipment.
• The material, to be transferred in complete, welded power vgunits, must only be used for naval propulsion. 
• The treaty also allows the US and UK to cease cooperation and demand the return of materials if Australia breaches the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or detonates a nuclear device.
• Australia will be responsible for any nuclear safety risks and will indemnify the US and UK against liabilities related to the nuclear material and equipment. 
• The treaty includes a non-legally binding document outlining additional political commitments but does not specify any obligation for Australia to participate in US-led military actions.

What is AUKUS?

• AUKUS is a trilateral defence and security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
• It was established in 2021 to bolster their allied deterrence and defense capabilities in the Indo-Pacific. 
• The trilateral partnership has two pillars.
  • Pillar I revolves around the acquisition and development of conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy; 
  • and Pillar 2 focuses on cooperation in eight advanced military capability areas: artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technologies, innovation, information sharing, and cyber, undersea, hypersonic and counter-hypersonic and electronic warfare domains.

Why was AUKUS formed?

• Increasing Presence of China: The Indo-Pacific region has witnessed increasing geopolitical tensions, including territorial disputes, military build-up, and assertive behavior by China.
  • The participating countries share concerns about maintaining peace, stability, and freedom of navigation in the region.
• Technological Cooperation: AUKUS aims to enhance technological cooperation, particularly in the field of defense and security. 
• Alliance Strengthening: AUKUS represents a deepening of security ties between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. 
• Response to Regional Dynamics: The formation of AUKUS is seen as a response to shifting regional dynamics and evolving security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
  • It reflects a broader trend of countries in the region seeking to forge closer security partnerships and alliances to address common concerns and counterbalance China’s influence.

Way Ahead

• Achieving the core objectives will take years, with Pillar I likely requiring decades, even with all states moving forward at full speed.
• Regardless, AUKUS still holds immediate promise for participating countries. 
• Critically, it will help catalyze technological innovation and enhance research and development for emerging capabilities necessary to maintain a competitive edge, strengthen defense ties, and deepen the three countries’ presence in the Indo-Pacific.

Source: TH