Jakarta, IO – Indo-Pacific framework is one of the hottest topics in recent international politics. It is mainly a framework of countries led by the United States to deter china and to do so the US have made different strategies and among them the conception of AUKUS alliance can be said to be of significance. Recently the pact containing USA, Australia and UK have fully unveiled a plan that was initially thought of in 2021 and intends to have security, technical and assistance on many other levels with an aim to deter China from gaining influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Aukus alliance which was established in 2021 and is mainly a security pact that is intended to counter Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region. This alliance allows the contracting countries to share intelligence and other technologies specially Is beneficial to Australia who doesn’t have nuclear submarine capabilities. The aim of this pact is to address the growing Chinese influence in south china sea and to overall deter Chinese growth.
The pact recently fully unveiled their nuclear submarine plan on 13 March 2023.According to the plan the United States intends to sell Australia three U.S. Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines in the early 2030s, with an option to buy two more if needed, the joint statement said. According to the US State department the partnership also intends to maintain and expand military capabilities and critical technologies. Aukus will be the first time in 65 years when the us will share it’s nuclear propolsion technology.
According to an official the first phase of the plan is already underway and a submarine is currently visiting Perth, Australia.The total cost of this operation is around 368 billion dollars over a span of 30 years with a target to deter china In the region. The US president emphasised that Australia will only be getting nuclear powered submarine but not any nuclear weapons and the Chinese are demanding that this plan violates ‘The nuclear proliferation treaty’.
Before Australia were in the AUKUS they were supposed to buy eight submarines worth around 66 billion dollars. France itself being a Indo-Pacific country also wants to play a crucial role in stabilizing the region. But after Australia’s bailout from the contract it has created much outcry among the french but French president Emmanuel macron and US president Joe Biden has agreed to find a way forward. Now it is a matter of time to see if the relationship between France and it’s allies grow stronger or weaker.