August 15th 2024.
The AUKUS partners, consisting of Australia, the United States, and Britain, have made a significant decision to remove barriers surrounding the sharing of defence technologies. This move marks a major boost for the alliance and opens the door for faster approvals of sensitive defence exports. It's a big step forward for Australia, as it aligns with their goal of acquiring nuclear-powered submarines.
The lifting of red tape is expected to have a positive impact on the development and production of advanced weapons, including undersea drones, hypersonic missiles, and quantum technologies. These cutting-edge technologies will be created collaboratively by the AUKUS partners, allowing for quicker progress and greater capabilities.
In recent news, there has been some tension between former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating and US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi over China and Taiwan. Despite this, the US remains Australia's strongest military ally. However, in the past, they have placed restrictions on sharing highly sensitive defence technology, governed by the US International Trafficking in Arms Regulations. This will soon change, as starting next month, 70% of defence exports from the US to Australia will be licence-free.
Defence Minister Richard Marles has expressed his enthusiasm for this development, recognizing it as a major boost for Australia's security. He believes that these reforms will have a revolutionary impact on defence trade, innovation, and cooperation. With the ever-changing and challenging strategic circumstances, these changes will enable collaboration at a faster pace and on a larger scale.
Last March, the three nations signed the historic AUKUS agreement, solidifying their commitment to strengthen their partnership. According to the first pillar of the agreement, Australia will be investing up to $368 billion by 2055 to construct a new fleet of eight nuclear-propelled submarines in Adelaide, which are expected to be ready for service in the 2040s. The second pillar of the deal focuses on sharing and developing advanced military technology, such as hypersonic missiles, undersea capabilities, and artificial intelligence. This also includes a focus on the Indo-Pacific region, aiming to deter Chinese assertiveness in the area.
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