The United States (US), Australia and the United Kingdom have taken steps to establish a new high-tech pact against China in 2021. The US aims to establish a broad military cooperation against China in the Asia-Pacific.[1]
On Friday, December 1, 2023, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with the defense chiefs of Australia and the United Kingdom at the US military defense technology center in Silicon Valley to discuss a new agreement to increase technology cooperation and information sharing. According to a joint statement from the three countries, the main objectives of the alliance are to collectively address global security, develop a common defense strategy against rapidly evolving regional threats, and contribute to stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
The 2023 new technology agreement can be seen as the next step in a rapidly expanding military cooperation first announced in 2021. Under the so-called AUKUS partnership, the three countries plan to equip Australia with eight nuclear-powered submarines. Under the agreement, Australia will purchase three Virginia-class submarines from the US and build five new AUKUS-class submarines in cooperation with the UK. These submarines will be powered by US nuclear technology, will not carry nuclear weapons, and the first submarine will be built in Australia in 2040.[2]
The AUKUS is critical to freedom of navigation in the seas, including the Pacific and the South China Sea. Earlier this year, the United States announced that Australia will expand its military industrial base by helping Australia produce guided missiles and rockets for both countries within two years. Under this agreement, Australia is expected to cooperate with the US in the production of the “Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System” by 2025. This cooperation is being developed in order to balance China.
The US has increased its military presence, military exercises and other activities in the region. In recent years, US relations with China have been strained in areas such as trade wars, open support for Taiwan and the South China Sea. The USSR move after the APEC 2023 Summit can be interpreted as an important detail indicating that the current dynamics in US-China relations will continue.
Based on recent developments, the new high-tech agreement and the AUKUS partnership between the US, Australia and the UK are seen as a sign of a significant change in the security dynamics in the region.
The new technology agreement and the AUKUS partnership aim to enable the three countries to work together more effectively against security threats. This cooperation aims to develop a common defense strategy, particularly with regard to submarine technologies and high-tech military systems. This reflects efforts to stabilize the region and create a counterbalance to China.
The future of the AUKUS will be important in the context of regional security dynamics and international relations. This strategic cooperation between the US, Australia and the UK aims to deter China. However, it also creates regional tensions and geopolitical rivalries.
How China responds to these developments and the impact of the ILCUS on the regional balance could play an important role in shaping future diplomatic relations. China is likely to revise its military strategies and develop an appropriate response.
As a result, these developments can be considered as an important step that could affect the military balances in the region and shake regional security. The effectiveness of this strategic partnership will be shaped by factors such as tensions in China-US relations and the reactions of other actors in the region.
[1] “Pentagon Forges New High-Tech Agreement With Australia, United Kingdom, Aimed At Countering China”, 9NEWS, https://www.9news.com.au/national/aukus-update-pentagon-forges-new-high-tech-agreement-with-australia-united-kingdom-aimed-at-countering-china/cc925c09-9d37-479e-bd5f-23ec5f03cae5, (Erişim Tarihi: 02.12.2023).
[2] “AUKUS Defense Ministers Meeting Joint Statement”, Australian Government Defence, https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/statements/2023-12-02/aukus-defense-ministers-meeting-joint-statement, (Erişim Tarihi: 02.12.2023).
