On September 15, 2021, we learned of the AUKUS pact, a defence alliance between Australia, Great Britain and the United States. It is within the framework of this pact that Australia has just officially committed itself this Monday, November 22, to a contested program to equip itself with nuclear-powered submarines. It is to acquire eight state-of-the-art submarines capable of carrying out long-range stealth missions. The AUKUS agreement also includes the sharing of unspecified cyber, artificial intelligence, quantum and submarine capabilities.

Defence Secretary Peter Dutton signed with British and US diplomats the first agreement issued under AUKUS allowing the exchange of “naval nuclear propulsion information” between their countries.

This tripartite alliance aims at military, industrial and technological cooperation and focuses specifically on deepening and integrating scientific and technological advances, industrial capabilities and defence-related supply chains. Particular emphasis has been placed on cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and new undersea capabilities.

The day after the announcement of the establishment of AUKUS, Naval Group announced the termination of the €31 billion contract with Australia for the construction of twelve conventionally powered submarines, at the initiative of the latter. This cancellation announced from the United States by Scott Morrison, the Australian Prime Minister was received as a slap in the face by France. In 2017, the Australian ambassador to France stated in an interview with Le Parisien:

“We are pragmatic. Our decision was obviously based on technical specifications. But this contract goes far beyond the supply of defence equipment. It is a strategic partnership between our two countries. It is the basis of the Franco-Australian relationship for the next four decades.”

But the Australian government changed its mind and thus opted for American or British nuclear submarines:

“The country had chosen traditional propulsion for its submarines, but now it wants nuclear-powered craft, which Naval Group does not manufacture.”

Following the signing of the agreement in Canberra on Monday with US Charge d’Affaires Michael Goldman and British High Commissioner to Australia Victoria Treadell, Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton said:

“The agreement will help Australia complete an 18-month study into submarine procurement.”

He added in a statement:

“With the access to information enabled by this agreement, as well as the decades of experience of our British and American partners in nuclear-powered submarines, Australia will also be able to be a responsible and reliable steward of this technology.”

Under the AUKUS pact, Australia is to acquire eight state-of-the-art nuclear-powered submarines capable of long-range stealth missions. It will provide strike capability to the RAN (Royal Australian Navy) in the form of Tomahawk cruise missiles to arm destroyers but also long-range precision missiles to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and land forces. It also provides for the sharing of unspecified cyber, artificial intelligence, quantum and underwater capabilities.

Concerns about the Aukus pact

France, in agreement with Australia when the contract was signed, was adamant that it would not supply nuclear-powered submarines in order to comply with nuclear non-proliferation treaties, and the Australian authorities agreed. Whereas the submarines supplied by the USA, unlike those that France was to supply, will be able to carry nuclear-tipped missiles at any time, which is not in keeping with non-proliferation.

China has said that this pact is an “extremely irresponsible threat”. Indeed, these nuclear submarines will weaken the strategic balance in the already unstable region and the international community may be affected as well.

Translated from Sous-marins australiens : le pacte AUKUS prévoit le partage de capacités d’intelligence artificielle, quantiques et cybernétiques non-spécifiées