New York: In a significant statement, a top US diplomat, Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, hinted that Australia’s planned nuclear-powered submarines, part of the AUKUS alliance, could play a crucial role in a potential conflict with China over Taiwan.
Campbell addressed the issue during an appearance at the Centre for a New American Security in Washington, emphasizing the need for cooperation among AUKUS allies and regional partners to address various potential conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region.
Australia, under the trilateral AUKUS security program, has committed to constructing a fleet of British-designed nuclear-powered submarines in Adelaide. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese disclosed last year that the plan, including the acquisition of at least three American submarines, would incur costs ranging from $268 billion to $368 billion over the next three decades.
While Albanese, US President Joe Biden, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have highlighted the economic benefits and job creation opportunities stemming from the alliance, Campbell’s recent comments underscored the strategic significance of AUKUS, particularly in the context of the Taiwan Strait conflict with China.
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Campbell stated, “Those practical circumstances in which AUKUS has the potential to have submarines from a number of countries operating in close coordination that could deliver conventional ordinance from long distances have enormous implications in a variety of scenarios, including in cross-strait circumstances.”
He stressed the importance of reinforcing support for AUKUS among the leaders of the participating countries, emphasizing that it is primarily a security partnership aimed at bolstering peace and stability in the region.
Despite assurances from Albanese that Australia would retain sovereign control over the use of the submarines, even in wartime, Campbell’s previous remarks to European Union officials suggested a more binding commitment under AUKUS.
Moreover, concerns have been raised by Australian defense expert Hugh White regarding the alliance’s implications. White criticized AUKUS, warning that it could embroil Australia in a conflict between the US and China, particularly over Taiwan. He questioned the strategic rationale behind the deal, emphasizing potential risks and uncertainties associated with it.
As Australia plans to purchase up to five US-made Virginia-class nuclear submarines as an interim measure, with subsequent construction of eight SSN-AUKUS submarines in Adelaide, the debate over the strategic implications and practicality of the AUKUS arrangement continues.
