China’s ‘growing’ influence in Indo-Pacific | U.S. Pentagon forges new high-tech agreement with Australia, United Kingdom
The Hindu
The U.S. is expanding its high-tech military cooperation with Australia and the United Kingdom as part of a broader effort to counter China’s rapidly growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin met with defence chiefs from Australia and the United Kingdom at the U.S. military’s defence technology hub in Silicon Valley on December 1 to forge a new agreement to increase technology cooperation and information sharing.
From underwater drones to electronic warfare, the U.S. is expanding its high-tech military cooperation with Australia and the United Kingdom as part of a broader effort to counter China’s rapidly growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin met with defence chiefs from Australia and the United Kingdom at the U.S. military’s defence technology hub in Silicon Valley on December 1 to forge a new agreement to increase technology cooperation and information sharing. The goal, according to a joint statement, is to be able to better address global security challenges, ensure each can defend against rapidly evolving threats and to “contribute to stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.”
Mr. Austin met with Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles and Grant Shapps, the British Secretary of State for defence, at the Defence Innovation Unit headquarters.
Speaking at a news conference after the meeting, Mr. Austin said the effort will, for example, rapidly accelerate the sophistication of the drone systems, and prove that “we are stronger together.”
The new technology agreement is the next step in a widening military cooperation with Australia that was first announced in 2021. The three nations have laid out plans for the so-called AUKUS partnership to help equip Australia with a fleet of eight nuclear-powered submarines. AUKUS is an acronym for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Under the deal, Australia will buy three Virginia-class submarines from the United States and build five of a new AUKUS-class submarine in cooperation with Britain. The subs, powered by U.S. nuclear technology, would not carry nuclear weapons and would be built in Adelaide, Australia, with the first one finished around 2040.
Mr. Marles said there has been an enormous amount of progress in the submarine programme. He added that as an island nation, Australia has a need for improved maritime drones and precision strike capabilities.
With a new government in place in Delhi, Singapore hopes to schedule the Ministerial Roundtable with India shortly, says Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. In an exclusive interview, he speaks about the impact of the elections on ties, the “missed opportunity” of RCEP and the new buzz around Andhra Pradesh’s capital Amaravati.