U.S. Department of State Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink echoed in an online press briefing today the announcement of the optimal pathway for Australia’s acquisition of conventional armed nuclear-powered submarines under the Australia, United Kingdom, and United States (AUKUS) partnership.
The tripartite plan was unveiled earlier today by United States President Joe Biden, alongside United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in San Diego, California.
The formal announcement outlined how the plan will be implemented under AUKUS. As AUKUS partners build the AUKUS-Class Submarine or SSN-AUKUS, AUKUS will leverage the best technology and ingenuity from the three countries to design a new class of submarine for Australia and UK to use.
During the press briefing organized by the U.S. Asia Pacific Media Hub, Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink said, “We are coming together to assist Australia in modernizing its submarine fleet to use the same technology — nuclear-powered submarines — that other countries such as India, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), France, UK, Russia, as well as the United States already deploy in the region. As we do so, we are bolstering the economic opportunity of all three of our nations. We are deepening our longstanding, robust defense cooperation to bring our sailors, mariners, and engineers together to make this a reality and to build Australia’s stewardship of this powerful technology.”
According to Kritenbrink, AUKUS is an integral part of the U.S. strategy towards the Indo-Pacific, and a concrete commitment to the Indo-Pacific region by the three nations to ensure continued stability and prosperity in the region and across the globe.
Citing the unprecedented challenges including Russia’s war against Ukraine, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile development, and the climate crisis and its effects on global security and supply chain vulnerability, Kritenbrink noted, “AUKUS is a modernization of our alliances and partnerships to face the challenges of the future, and is one of the multiple partnerships that we are fostering in the region to build a stronger multilateral architecture to advance our shared goals of promoting a free and open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Guided by a shared commitment to global security and stability, AUKUS deepens our diplomatic, security, and defense cooperation in the region.”
Addressing some concerns previously expressed by Southeast Asian nations about nuclear proliferation, Kritenbrink explained, “This (AUKUS plan for Australia to have a nuclear submarine fleet) is a responsible and transparent agreement that is carried out in the name of the highest standards of nonproliferation, and in fact the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General has praised and commended and welcomed our approach.”
“These are conventionally armed nuclear-propelled submarines. Nuclear propulsion has nothing to do with nuclear weapons. And this program will be operated safely,” Kritenbrink added, stressing earlier clarification by President Biden.
In closing, Kritenbrink highlighted the one overriding objective of AUKUS defined by President Biden during the AUKUS plan announcement: “to enhance stability in the Indo-Pacific amid rapidly shifting global dynamics.”
Kritenbrink was joined at the online press briefing by National Security Council Director for AUKUS Grant Schneider.