Australia will buy three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines from the US, with an option for two more, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan announced Monday.
The submarines will be delivered from 2030, as part of the new AUKUS military alliance that brings together the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, he told reporters aboard Air Force One.
These countries will join forces for a new generation of submarines, called SSN-AUKUS.
These devices, nuclear propelled and conventionally armed, will mean “significant investments” in the three countries, he added.
diplomatic crisis
US leaders Joe Biden, Britain’s Rishi Sunak and Australia’s Anthony Albanese met in the United States on Monday for an AUKUS alliance summit.
For a year and a half, extensive behind-the-scenes discussions have been taking place between Washington, Canberra and London over Australia’s procurement of sensitive nuclear propulsion technologies.
The conclusion of the AUKUS alliance, with the corollarycancellation by Canberra of the contract for the acquisition of 12 French submarinesit had led to a diplomatic crisis with France.
Source: BFM TV
