Australia to deploy nuclear-powered submarines far from mainland

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
8 Nov 2022 16:21
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Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles says that the new defense strategy will include developing and deploying nuclear-powered submarines to protect the country afar from its shores.

Australian Collins Class Submarines.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles announced on Tuesday, during a speech at a university in Canberra, that his country's upcoming defense strategy will include developing and deploying nuclear-powered submarines to protect the country far from its mainland.

"Increasingly, we are going to need to think about our Defence Force in terms of being able to provide the country with impactful projection, meaning an ability to hold an adversary at risk much further from our shores across the full spectrum of proportionate response," the Australian Financial Review newspaper cited the Minister.

According to Marles, Australia will collaborate with the US and the UK within the AUKUS partnership to establish a submarine fleet.

In September of 2021, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia announced forming a trilateral partnership in the form of a military alliance dubbed AUKUS, to boost nuclear capabilities and "strengthen stability in the Indo-Pacific region" as the West grows warier of China, although they did not mention that in their announcement.

The alliance will also see the three nations sharing their know-how on AI, cyber, and quantum technologies, in addition to underwater and long-range missile capabilities.