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Agence France-Presse

Australia insisted on Friday that a landmark deal to develop Aukus nuclear-powered submarines with London and Washington was “going to happen”, despite mounting fears about costs, capabilities and the possible return of Donald Trump.
Under the fledgling Aukus deal, the three long-time allies have pledged to jointly strengthen their military muscle in a bid to counter China’s rise.
Defence chiefs this week unveiled ambitious plans to supply Australia with nuclear-powered submarines, a key pillar of the agreement.
“The three governments involved here are working at pace to make this happen,” Australian defence minister Richard Marles told reporters on Friday.
“This is going to happen and we need it to happen,” he added.
Barely two years old, there are already signs that Aukus and its central project could be under threat.
Some fear Trump could jettison the pact if he wins this year’s presidential election, returning to his “America first” style of foreign policy.
Why Singapore’s possible hosting of future Aukus subs could provoke Beijing
With potential flashpoints emerging across the globe, and China taking an increasingly aggressive stance in the Taiwan Strait, visiting UK defence minister Grant Shapps said Aukus was as crucial as ever.
After decades of relative peace, Shapps said the planet was slowly shifting from a “post-war” era to a “pre-war” footing.
“We are living in more dangerous times,” he said during a tour of the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia.
UK defence contractor BAE Systems has been enlisted to help construct Australia’s fleet of nuclear-propelled submarines.
Australia hopes to have eight nuclear-powered vessels in the water by the 2050s – a mix of the new Aukus-class subs built at home and in the UK, and Virgina-class vessels bought from the United States.


Marles said a “drumbeat” of Aukus-class submarines would then continue to roll off Australian production lines “every few years” in perpetuity.
“There is no country in the world which has obtained the capability to build nuclear-powered submarines, which has then turned that capability off,” he said.
“We will see submarines being produced here on an enduring basis.”
Although the financial details of the BAE deal are under wraps, Australian defence officials want to initially build at least five Aukus-class nuclear-powered submarines at a cost of billions of dollars.
The submarines will be quieter and stealthier than Australia’s existing diesel fleet, and capable of deploying over vast distances without surfacing, posing a potent threat to any foe.
BAE Systems, one of the largest defence contractors in Europe, said it was “already making good progress on the design and development of the next generation submarine”.
The company has a close relationship with the UK navy, and is responsible for building its Astute-class and Dreadnought-class nuclear-powered vessels.
Australia should ‘end servility to US’, defuse Aukus deal: ex-Greek minister
The scale of the project is vast, and questions have been raised about whether Australia – with limited nuclear experience and a relatively small navy – can pull it off.
Australian officials believe some 20,000 workers will be needed for the home-grown nuclear industry – among them an army of technicians, metal workers, electricians and welders.
The Australian navy has struggled to maintain its current fleet of ageing diesel-electric subs, which have been plagued by design flaws and cost blowouts.
In total, the Aukus submarine project could cost up to A$368 billion (US$240 billion) over the next 30 years.


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Australia

Australia insists Aukus nuclear-powered submarines ‘going to happen’ despite fears about costs, potential Trump return

A US navy Virginia-class submarine docked at the HMAS Stirling port in Rockingham, Australia. Photo: AFP

British defence secretary Grant Shapps (left) and his Australian counterpart Richard Marles inspect the guard of honour in Canberra on March 21. Photo: Australian Department of Defence/Reuters

Singapore’s welcome of future Aukus submarines underscores ‘friends-to-all’ policy

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong speaks at a press conference in Australia on March 5. Photo: Reuters

The leaders of Asean, Australia and East Timor, and the bloc’s secretary general, pose for a photo in Melbourne. Photo: Asean-Australia Special Summit 2024 via AFP

New Zealand and China still have ‘significant differences’, despite Wang Yi’s ‘charm offensive’ visit

New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters (right) shakes hands with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a bilateral meeting at Parliament in Wellington on Monday. Photo: AFP

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters in Wellington on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

Ships are docked offshore in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands. China signed a secretive security agreement with the Solomon Islands in 2022. Photo: AP

A Philippine resupply vessel (left) is hit by two Chinese coastguard water canons as it tried to enter the Second Thomas Shoal, locally known as Ayungin Shoal, in the disputed South China Sea on March 5. Photo: AP

Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (left) with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Wellington on Monday. Luxon is expected to visit China in the coming months. Photo: Xinhua

Displaced Palestinians inspect the damage to their tents following overnight Israeli bombardment at the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Australia ‘buying US hegemony’ in region, ex-PM Paul Keating says as he slams nation’s China policy

Former Australian prime minister Paul Keating says Canberra’s policy is “at odds with the general tenor of Asean’s perceived strategic interests”. Photo: AFP

China’s coastguard vessels deploy water cannons at the Philippine military chartered Unaizah May 4 (right) during its supply mission to Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed South China Sea. Photo: AFP

News

Asia

Australasia

Australian defence minister Richard Marles said Canberra, London and Washington are ‘working at pace to make this happen’
Some fear Trump could sink the pact if he wins this year’s presidential election, returning to his ‘America first’ style of foreign policy


Australian defence minister Richard Marles said Canberra, London and Washington are ‘working at pace to make this happen’.


Australia insists Aukus nuclear-powered submarines ‘going to happen’ despite fears about costs, potential Trump return

Australian defence minister Richard Marles said Canberra, London and Washington are ‘working at pace to make this happen’ Some fear Trump could sink the pact if he wins this year’s presidential election, returning to his ‘America first’ style of foreign policy

Australian defence minister Richard Marles said Canberra, London and Washington are ‘working at pace to make this happen’

Some fear Trump could sink the pact if he wins this year’s presidential election, returning to his ‘America first’ style of foreign policy