Canada in talks about joining expanded Aukus: ‘very optimistic’

Canada wants to join a second pillar of Aukus that will collaborate on new military technologies, including AI and quantum computing

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Canada’s Defence Minister Bill Blair (3rd from left) inspects an honour guard with Japan’s Defence Minister Minoru Kihara (left) in Tokyo. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:05pm, 13 Sep 2024Updated: 9:16pm, 13 Sep 2024

Canada is in discussions about joining an expanded Aukus deal between the US, Britain, and Australia formed to counter China’s growing military influence in the Asia-Pacific region, Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair said.

Canada has said it wants to join a second pillar of Aukus that will collaborate on new military technologies, including artificial intelligence and quantum computing, but has not so far revealed any details of those talks.

“There have been important discussions about processes and platforms on a project-specific basis on where other nations, including Japan and ourselves, might participate,” Blair said in an interview in Tokyo where he met his Japanese counterpart Minoru Kihara.

“I would respectfully wait until they’ve come to their determination, but I’m very optimistic,” he said.

US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and then-British prime minister Rishi Sunak deliver remarks on Aukus in San Diego in 2023. Photo: Reuters

Blair said he and Kihara discussed Aukus, which is already considering working with Japan. The initial phase of Aukus involves the three founding members working on nuclear submarine technology for Australia. Blair, who was on his first trip to Japan as defence minister, arrived in Tokyo from South Korea, which is also in talks about a role in Aukus.