Addis Ababa, September 16, 2021 (Walta) – The UK, US, and Australia have announced a historic security pact in the Asia-Pacific, in what’s seen as an effort to counter China.
It will let Australia build nuclear-powered submarines for the first time, using technology provided by the US.
The pact, to be known as Aukus, will also cover artificial intelligence, cyber and quantum technologies.
It is the biggest defense partnership among the countries in decades, analysts say.
China’s embassy in Washington reacted by accusing the countries of a “Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice”.
In recent years, the Western democracies have all expressed concerns about China’s growing military assertiveness.
The new partnership aimed to “promote security and prosperity” in the region, said US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison in a joint virtual press briefing.
But in one awkward moment, Biden appeared to forget Morrison’s name, referring to him as “that fellow down under”.
According to BBC, the pact means Australia has torn up the $50bn (€31bn; £27bn) deal it signed with France in 2016, to build 12 submarines.