Rishi Sunak hails Aukus submarine deal as key to ‘keeping oceans free’.
In San Diego, Rishi Sunak met with Joe Biden and Anthony Albanese to announce the next phase of the Aukus plan. In a recent security and foreign policy review, the prime minister predicted a “difficult and dangerous decade.”
Rishi Sunak stated that the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia will collaborate to “keep our oceans free” with a new generation of nuclear-powered attack submarines.
In San Diego, Mr. Sunak met with US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to announce the next phase of the Aukus partnership plan.
Australia will receive nuclear-powered submarines to counter Chinese activities in the Pacific Ocean.
Rishi Sunak hails Aukus submarine deal as key to ‘keeping oceans free’. Australia announced the Aukus partnership in 2021 in response to China’s actions. Since then, the United Kingdom has published an integrated review of its foreign and security policy, which emphasizes China’s “more aggressive stance.”
Mr. Sunak stated that for the first time, three fleets of submarines will work together across both the Atlantic and Pacific to keep our oceans free, open, and prosperous for decades to come.
He added that the collaboration would produce “one of the world’s most advanced” submarines, which will replace the seven Astute-class submarines currently in service with the United Kingdom.
Earlier on Monday, during a review of security and foreign policy, Mr. Sunak announced an additional £5 billion for defense, which will be used in part to develop the next phase of the Aukus program.
The United Kingdom will also contribute its expertise to the construction of the new SSN-Aukus boats, creating jobs in shipyards in Barrow-in-Furness and Derby.
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They will be operational by the late 2030s for the Royal Navy.
According to Royal Navy insiders, the size of the hunter-killer fleet could double, though no number has been confirmed.
The United States intends to sell Australia three US Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines as part of the agreement.
President Biden stated that when it comes to ensuring the security of the Pacific, the United States could not ask for “better partners” than the United Kingdom and Australia.
In the next four years, the program will result in a $6 billion (£3.3 billion) investment in Australia’s industrial capability, according to Mr. Albanese.
Australia’s boats will be constructed in the south of the country using British-made components and will enter service in the early 2040s.
The three nations insisted that the agreement did not increase the nuclear proliferation risk. With the vessels carrying conventional weapons, nuclear reactors will be sealed shut.
Biden accepts the invitation to travel to Northern Ireland.
During the same trip, Mr. Biden announced his intention to travel to Northern Ireland to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
As Mr. Sunak met the president in San Diego’s Point Loma naval base, Mr. Biden stated, “I intend to visit Northern Ireland and the Republic.”
Mr. Sunak invited the president by stating, “Mr. Biden’s response was, “Twenty-five years? It seems like yesterday.”
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