BLUF
While the AUKUS submarine package allows Australia to credibly deny an interest in acquiring nuclear weapons, other issues relating to AUKUS must still be discussed.Summary
This article by Ron Huisken, writing for ASPI, makes some of the following points:
- Government need to maintain support for AUKUS over an extensive time frame.
- Australian government(s) will need a compelling case to justify the huge costs of the project.
- Any lies or exaggerations justifying the project will be exposed over time.
- Some groups will likely try to discredit the project.
- Recruiting people with the skills necessary to run and maintain nuclear submarines is likely to result in Australia being accused of wanting to acquire a nuclear weapon capability.
References
Recent Runway Posts related to this topic:
- US and UK jump-start Australia’s nuclear submarine program | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
- Australia’s submarine acquisition is about deterrence, not aggression | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
References from the Web:
- MAR 2023 AUKUS Submarine agreement a massive boost for national security and domestic capability—Ai Group
- MAR 2023 China is determined to thwart AUKUS, driven by distrust and fear of a US nuclear build-up—ABC News
