Antinuclear

Nuclear shift in updated AUKUS deal

InDaily, 10 Aug 24

Australia’s acceptance of nuclear material from the US and UK has been officially approved as part of an updated AUKUS agreement.

The update to AUKUS was signed off during AUSMIN meetings in the US, the annual talks between Australian and US defence and foreign ministers.

Under the agreement, Australia will be formally permitted to take in nuclear material for the procurement of nuclear submarines.

The terms of the original deal, inked in March 2023, only allowed for the exchange of information about nuclear propulsion.

Defence Minister Richard Marles says the fresh agreement is a “foundational document” for the trilateral security pact……..

As part of the AUKUS agreement, Australia will acquire three Virginia-class vessels from the US before Australian-built nuclear submarines begin operating.

The $368 billion plan will bring eight nuclear-powered subs into service by the 2050s.

But the deal has come under renewed criticism from former prime minister Paul Keating, who says Australia is losing its autonomy by being part of it.

“AUKUS is really about, in American terms, the military control of Australia. I mean what’s happened? Our policy is likely to turn Australia into the 51st state of the United States,” he told ABC’s 7.30 program.

“The only threat likely to come for us is because we have an aggressive ally because of AUKUS.”………………………….

Australia would not be in a position to dispose of any nuclear material in the country until the 2050s, Marles said.

Details of the agreement were laid out in a letter to US Congress by President Joe Biden.

The agreement had also come under fire by Greens defence spokesman David Shoebridge, who said levels of secrecy about the terms of the deal was concerning.

“What is so damaging to the Albanese government with this new deal that it has to be kept secret from the Australian public?” he said.

“There are real concerns the secret understanding includes commitments binding us to the US in the event they go to war with China in return for getting nuclear submarines.”

It comes as opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie called for the WA government to include a minister dedicated to AUKUS in its cabinet. https://www.indaily.com.au/news/national/2024/08/09/australia-to-accept-nuclear-material-in-new-aukus-deal

August 10, 2024 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics international