According to insiders, Australia is arming itself with nuclear-powered submarines from the USA against the background of China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. From 2030, three submarines of the Virginia-class will be stationed in Western Australia with an option to purchase two more, two US government officials familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.
The delivery of the boats with British design and American technology is part of the Aukus security pact between the governments in Washington, Canberra and London. US President Joe Biden will receive the heads of state and government of Australia and Great Britain in San Diego next week and will discuss the delivery of nuclear-powered submarines and other high-tech weapons to Australia, said one of the US representatives.
The Pentagon referred a request from Reuters for comment to the US Presidential Office, which declined to confirm details of an upcoming announcement. Last year, Australia withdrew an order from the French shipbuilding group Naval to build submarines and instead agreed to supply the relevant technologies from the USA and Great Britain. The cancellation of the 2016 order worth 40 billion euros led to serious disagreements between Australia and France.