AUKUS Trilateral Security Partnership

Question 1

AUKUS background, date, National Interests

Answer 1

-Signed in September 2021, the AUKUS security partnership works to increase and build up the military capabilities of the state of Australia
-It also provides the state of Australia with more agency if faces by an external military threat, thus delivering it with more sovereignty
-Increases national security

Question 2

AUKUS pillars

Answer 2

1. Australia acquiring eight nuclear-powered submarines by the 2050s
   3x US-Virginia Class submarines
   5x SSN-AUKUS Class submarines (to be built in Adelaide, using British Design and American technology)
2. Greater co-operation and integration with the US and the UK on developing technologies
   -Undersea warfare
   -Hypersonics
   -Advanced cyber and quantum technologies
   -Artificial intelligence

Question 3

Related FPI, Power, Pragmatism/ idealism

Answer 3

-Ties to military power, military FPI
-Hard power
-Idealism - as Australia is looking to align itself with states that it sees as having the same values as itself (see Aus-Us relations quote), based on ideological principle
-Not practical (see effectiveness)

Question 4

Different Interpretations - Richard Marles (Minister for Defense, Aus)

Answer 4

“The defence of Australia in this day and age now lies in the collective security of our region and in the maintenance of the rules of the road… We need a defence force which can effect to that strategic posture” - 2023

Question 5

Different Interpretations - Wang Wenbin (Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson)

Answer 5

2024 - “By setting up the so-called AUKUS, the US, UK and Australia are in nature inciting military confrontation through military cooperation.”
“China and many other countries in the region are gravely concerned and oppose this”

Question 6

Effectiveness

Answer 6

-Limited, seeing as 5 of the 8 nuclear-powered submarines are unlikely to be acquired before the 2050s

Question 7

Other related national interests

Answer 7

-Economic Prosperity (through the means of protecting trade routes, also being built in Adelaide) - Richard Marles - Australia’s fleet of nuclear-powered submarines will also help deter a foreign adversary from launching a shipping blockade which could cut off the country’s trading routes from the rest of the world
-Regional Relationships - Increasing with US, decreasing with China (see respective quotes)