AUKUS

INTERNATIONAL/ SECURITY

• GS-2: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. 
• GS-2: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements.

AUKUS

Context: The U.S. has joined with the U.K. and Australia to announce a new trilateral security partnership, the AUKUS.

Significance of AUKUS:

• AUKUS aims to ensure that there will be freedom and openness in the Indo-Pacific region, including the South China Sea.
• It complements several pre-existing similar arrangements for the region like Five Eyes intelligence cooperation initiative, ASEAN and the Quad
• It proposes to transfer technology to build a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines for Australia within 18 month.

• US has clarified that AUKUS was “not talking about nuclear-armed submarines. These are conventionally armed submarines that are powered by nuclear reactors. 

• Although no explicit mention was made of China in any of the AUKUS announcements, this group challenges the regional hegemonic ambitions of China.
• The operationalisation of this security partnership lead to closer coordination among the nations concerned in terms of joint military presence, war games and more in the region.

Concerns

• Australia’s domestic challenges: As per Australia’s 1984 nuclear-free zone policy, nuclear-powered submarines would not be allowed into the former’s territorial waters. Hence, there is a political opposition to it.

• Upset France: Australia had struck a deal with France for $90 billion worth of conventional submarines, which stands cancelled now. This has upset political leadership in France

• Battleground: The Indo-Pacific region will emerge as the new geopolitical battle ground posing greater security risk to others.

Connecting the dots:

• QUAD
• China’s Belt and Road Initiative