AUKUS, Japan and the Indo-Pacific : strategic rationales and challenges

Abstract

The announcement of AUKUS, a new security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, on 15 September 2021 caused shockwaves around the world. France’s fury was understandable as the AUKUS deal meant the cancellation of a 2016 submarine deal between Paris and Canberra. The negotiations were kept strictly secret until the very end. The three countries are now starting an 18-month period of detailing the plan to build “at least 8” nuclear submarines for the Royal Australian Navy using American and British technology. Answers to questions such as when the first boat will become operational and how much the whole project will cost are not known yet. It is commonly estimated that the submarines will not be ready until around 2040, which effectively suggests that this deal is going to be a long-term commitment.