The United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia signed a military alliance, called OKUS, in order to create a new type of nuclear-powered submarine. In this way they try to counteract Chinese armament advances, creating an atmosphere of tension between all countries involved, with the emergence of an arms race. In the video accompanying this story, experts contacted by El Pais highlight key aspects of this alliance, such as Australia's role as an enclave in the middle of the Indo-Pacific region.
Andrea Rizzi, global affairs correspondent for El Pais newspaper, explains that the agreement is part of a series by the United States to strengthen relations with partners to stand up to China. The magazine's defense analyst ArmiesGuillermo Pulido sees Australia becoming a military base for the United States and an ally capable of destroying maritime trade in the region. The project is divided into three phases. During the first phase, already underway, US and British submarines will rotate through Australia to bolster defense in the Indo-Pacific region. In 2030, Australia will purchase three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines from the United States. At the end of that decade, the last of the three stages will arrive: the construction of the new submarine, SSN-AUKUS.
The alliance between the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom has sparked controversy. China fears “unleashing an arms race that would harm the International Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.” In addition, it should be noted that Australia canceled the agreement it concluded with France to purchase diesel submarines a year and a half ago, a gesture that Emmanuel Macron's government described as “betrayal.”
“Thinker. Professional twitter fanatic. Certified introvert. Troublemaker. Unapologetic zombie maven.”