President Biden, Prime Minister Albanese, and Premier Sunak met in San Diego, a year and a half after the AUKUS announcement. They chose a temporary solution and a long-term solution, which we will detail here.
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Prime Minister Albanese, President Biden, and Prime Minister Sunak during their meeting concerning the new Aukus class submarine. (Picture source: Twitter account of Anthony Albanese)
The AUKUS agreement was announced on September 15, 2021, as a trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
On March 13, 2023, the leaders of the 3 countries met again to make new announcements.
In addition to embedding Australian personnel with U.S. and UK crews, increasing port visits to Australia, and establishing a rotational presence of U.S. and UK nuclear-powered subs in Australia, the U.S. will sell three Virginia-class submarines to Australia with the potential for two more.
The ultimate goal of this partnership is to develop the SSN-AUKUS, a new conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarine that will combine U.S. and UK submarine technology and design with American technology.
Prime Minister Sunak spoke of the United Kingdom's commitment to defense, announcing a significant uplift in their defense budget and a new ambition to spend 2.5 percent of GDP on defense.
All three leaders spoke of the importance of strengthening relationships with allies and the shared values of democracy and freedom. They emphasized the significance of this partnership and its potential to enhance stability in the Indo-Pacific region, promote security, and provide opportunities for economic growth and innovation. Overall, the three presidents conveyed a strong message of unity, determination, and commitment to defending shared values and interests.
The new Aukus class is planned to be introduced in late 2030 and will be powered by a Rolls-Royce pressurized water reactor (PWR). The submarines will also be interoperable, allowing the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy to operate the same submarines, share components and parts with the US Navy, and communicate using the same terminology and equipment.
