The United States, Australia and the United Kingdom seal a security agreement in the Indo-Pacific region, angering Beijing and Paris

The United States on Thursday launched a wide-ranging security alliance with Australia and the United Kingdom between China and India, including the delivery of nuclear submarines to Canberra, which Beijing considered “irresponsible”.

This wonderful announcement was rejected by France, which broke a huge contract to supply regular submarines to Australia.

“The first major effort of this new agreement (AUKUS) is to supply nuclear-powered submarines to Australia,” Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a video conference with his ally. Britain’s Boris Johnson at the event, led by Joe Biden at the White House.

China has responded that it is too irresponsible to sell US nuclear-powered submarines to Australia.

“Cooperation between the United States, Great Britain and Australia on nuclear submarines seriously undermines regional peace and stability, intensifies arms competition and undermines international nuclear proliferation efforts,” said Chinese diplomatic spokesman Zhao Lijian.

China was not mentioned in the joint statement of the Australian, US and British leaders, which signifies “peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.” But there is no doubt that the new alliance is primarily aimed at addressing Beijing’s regional ambitions.

“Unilateral, brutal decision”

Joe Biden has repeatedly stated after his election that he wants to face China like his predecessor Donald Trump, but in a very different way, without locking himself up in a face-to-face meeting.

On September 24, the US president reunited the Australian, Indian and Japanese prime ministers in Washington, resuming the “quad” form of diplomacy that had been stagnant for years.

Mr. As for Morrison, he said on Thursday that he would begin an “open call” to talk with Chinese President Xi Jinping after the Axis agreement was announced.

Boris Johnson, “This effort to contribute to” peace and security “in the Indo-Pacific region is not intended to oppose any other force (…), but it does reflect our close relationship with the United States and Australia.”

France sees $ 90 billion (56 56 billion) deal in Canberra region

“This unilateral, brutal, unpredictable decision is very similar to what Mr. Trump was doing,” said Jean-Yves Le Trian, head of French diplomacy.

“The decision we have made not to pursue attack class submarines and to go the other way is not a change of mood, it is a change of need,” the Prime Minister said on Thursday. Australian.

Nuclear-powered submarines are more autonomous than conventional (diesel-electric) propulsion submarines.

“For generations”

Like Joe Biden, who described Paris as a “key partner”, the United Kingdom wanted to compromise: “We do not want to do anything to upset the French,” said British Defense Minister Ben Wallace.

But in reality, the new security partnership is a major setback for Paris’ strategy in the Indo-Pacific region in terms of its partnership with India and Australia.

“The UK, Australia and the United States are getting closer, which reflects the level of trust between us and the depth of our friendship,” Boris Johnson said. Isolation after Brexit.

“Based on the general history of maritime democracies, we are committed to a common goal of supporting Australia to purchase nuclear-powered submarines,” the three allies said in a joint statement, which says it is really a question of motivation, not weapons.

Since 1958, “Great Britain is the only country in the United States where this type of nuclear propulsion technology has been shared,” said a senior White House official. “It’s a fundamental, fundamental decision. It will bind Australia, the United States and Great Britain for generations.

According to this senior official, the “AUKUS” agreement also provides for cooperation between the three countries in cyber security, artificial intelligence and quantum technology.

New Zealand, which has banned all nuclear-powered ships from its waters since 1985, has announced that it will not welcome future submarines from its neighbors and Australian allies.