The United States, Australia and the United Kingdom will join forces for a new generation of submarines, called SSN-AUKUS. US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met Monday at a San Diego naval base to formalize the project, which angered France when it was announced there eighteen years ago. months.
Because the conclusion of the AUKUS alliance, with the corollary of the cancellation by Canberra of the contract for the acquisition of 12 French submarines, had given rise in 2021 to a diplomatic crisis with France, which had shouted “treason”.
The matter has since been calmed down by dint of intense diplomatic maneuvering, including a state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to the United States in early December. Joe Biden also called his French counterpart on March 7, and the two men in particular, according to the White House, discussed their “cooperation” in the Indian Ocean and in Asia.
France’s outrage has given way above all to criticism from China, which has a fierce economic and strategic rivalry with the United States. Beijing called on the three allied countries to “abandon the Cold War and zero-sum game mentality” and “do more to promote regional peace and stability.”
Australia’s ‘largest investment in history’
Because this new SSN-AUKUS deal will see Australia buy US nuclear-powered submarines before building a new generation of devices. Its prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says Canberra is making “the biggest investment in (its) history.”
The project will “support the Australian economy for decades” and create “around 20,000 direct jobs” in the country, it said.
“Our project strengthens for decades the industrial capacity of our three nations to produce and deploy nuclear-powered submarines, develops our submarine presence in the Indo-Pacific and contributes to global security and stability,” the three heads of state said in a statement. set. statement.
First ships in action as of 2030
The program will be developed in three phases, the White House said in a press release, and in compliance with the principle of nuclear non-proliferation, the US executive said.
All about a phase of familiarization of l’Australia avec ces engins, via the training of marines, engineers, technicians au sein d’équipages américains et britanniques, ainsi que dans les chantiers navals et les écoles spécialisées des États-Unis et du United Kingdom.
The objective is to deploy, starting in 2027 and according to a rotation principle, four American submarines of the “Virginia” class and one British submarine of the “Astute” class at the Australian base in Perth (west).
In a second step, and subject to the green light from the US Congress, Australia will purchase three US “Virginia” class nuclear-powered submarines, with an option for two additional submersible vessels. They will be delivered in 2030.
“Deter all conflict”
Finally, the third and most ambitious phase of the program: the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom will join forces for a new generation of attack submarines, named SSN-AUKUS.
Designed by the British and incorporating advanced American technologies, the new ships will be built and deployed by London and Canberra. They will be delivered starting in the late 2030s and early 2040s.
Nuclear-powered submarines are difficult to detect, can travel great distances for long periods of time, and can carry sophisticated cruise missiles. The goal, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Monday, is not “to go to war” but to “deter all conflict.” With a new navy of submarines.
Source: BFM TV
