Aukus is trilateral defense agreement signed between three Anglo- Saxon countries: The US, the UK and Australia in September,2021. This agreement will result in The United States providing a fleet of nuclear powered submarines to Australia. Understanding Aukus and its implications is important to understand the evolving nature of US- China rivalry; which is an important topic for CSS Current Affairs as well as CSS International Relations.
Why was Aukus signed? Aukus is a security agreement and it was signed to bolster the Australian naval capabilities to keep the growing Chinese military footprint in Indo- Pacific in check. Aukus also aims to increase the role of traditional US ally- The UK's role in Indo- Pacific. The purpose of doing this is to provide more support to the US in its policy of containing China's burgeoning geoeconomic and geopolitical influence.
Aukus is primarily viewed as an anti-Chinese alliance; therefore, its implications on US- China rivalry or what some scholars now call new Cold War are many. This security agreement has antagonized China, putting Australia at its nuclear crosshairs. Chinese foreign ministry termed this agreement as "irresponsible".
Further, Aukus has undermined nuclear non-proliferation regime. Since the US itself has undermined NPT by providing nuclear powered submarined to an ally, more non-nuclear states can go for nuclear powered submarines now. This treaty can prompt rogue states like North Korea and Iran to pursue nuclear submarines of their own.
Aukus has also induced a nuclear arms race. This pact singled out China and has therefore prompted Beijing to do vertical proliferation of nuclear weapons to develop a nuclear stockpile against an imminent Aukus threat. This can potentially have a domino effect, where India responds to China developing nuclear weapons and Pakistan to India. Hence, a global nuclear arms race is very much on the cards in Russia decides to do the same.
Another unintentional affect of Aukus is that it has undercut the potential of Quad- another anti-Chinese maritime alliance. Many US officials now call Quad "informal" and "non-military".
Aukus has also reduced the EU's role in the Indo-Pacific. Australia scuttled its diesel powered submarine deal with France to sign this deal with the US. French termed it "as stab in the back." Since no EU power was consulted or included in Aukus, it has significantly undermined EU's role in Indo- Pacific and now EU states might be less inclined to support the US against China especially because China is the EU's largest trading partner.
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