September 18, 2024
The AUKUS alliance between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom has been set to expand for new military collaborations with several other countries.
Japan, South Korea, Canada and New Zealand have all reportedly been considered as potential partners for the Pillar Two technology-sharing component of the agreement.
AUKUS Pillar One, involving conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines, has remained exclusive to the original partners.
Pillar Two has been designed to improve and develop advanced technological capabilities among allies to counter the rise of China in the Indo-Pacific.
Technologies shared may include autonomous vehicles – such as uncrewed submarines – quantum technology, hypersonic missiles and cyber warfare capabilities.
The White House issued a statement on Tuesday which said: “AUKUS partners are steadily developing and deploying advanced capabilities for our war fighters.”
Shadow home affairs minister James Paterson praised the move in an interview with Sky News on Wednesday.
“AUKUS is the most intimate and attractive military technology sharing partnership in the world,” Mr Paterson said.
“It should stay as the original three members, but it does make sense to be able to cooperate on a case-by-case basis on Pillar Two with other very close partners.”
Mr Paterson asserted Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Canada were “advanced economies” and “like-minded partners” Australia could work with.
“We can work together on solving some of those technological problems, whether it's quantum computing or advanced hypersonic or cybersecurity,” he said.
Despite this enthusiasm, the AUKUS pact has been met with some domestic criticism, including from former foreign minister Gareth Evans.
Mr Evans recently condemned it in The Australian as one of the country’s “worst defence and foreign policy decisions” due to perceived financial and strategic risks.
Defence Minister Richard Marles’ recent parliamentary update revealed Australia might bear substantial risk given the nuclear submarines were not guaranteed.
The Albanese government, however, has remained optimistic about the expanded collaboration.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison – who first signed the AUKUS deal – has also applauded the latest announcement as a “good and welcome move”.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been scheduled to meet Quad leaders from India, Japan and the United States at a summit in Delaware, USA on Saturday.
The world leaders will discuss their diplomatic partnership for “practical action in the Indo-Pacific” amid a rise in intimidation tactics from China.
