AUKUS and Nuclearization in Asia-Pacific: Consequences for International Maritime Security
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AUKUS is a military alliance of naval submarine capacities in between the English-speaking powers of Global North including Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. The pact is a guarantee of cooperation amongst the states in regard to potential aspects of cybersecurity and artificial security in space of maritime, quantum technologies, and the provision of assistance to Australia for the development of nuclear-capable submarines for its potential aspects linked to the strategic calculus in Asia-Pacific.
Formation of AUKUS took place in the September of 2019, of which it is believed that many underlying aspects are behind the development of such alliance and signing of pact amongst the mean states. There are numerous factors which give a point of view in regards to AUKUS that China and its growing influence inside Asia-Pacific withholds a potential point for development of such coalition.There is no doubt that NATO and non-NATO allies of the United States had teamed up in form of Indo-Pacific alliances to stand against the growing challenge which is being posed by Beijing to the interests of the West inside Asia-Pacific, especially in Indian Ocean and South China Sea.
There is no open remark that China is the target of such measures or esprit de corps of AUKUS, but the ground is clear as some of congressmen and former military officials of the United States believe it as a step towards enhancing the cooperation in shape of Indo-Pacific alliances like Quad or Quad+ that observes the economic and strategic developments of China in shape of “Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)”. The justification for the formation of this alliance was to achieve the outsourcing of nuclear capacities of the United States and the United Kingdom to Australia as a credible partner in Indo-Pacific. The goals of this alliance as specified by its member states is that a multilateral approach, with respect to the point of view of neorealism to not only achieve the stability and security in region but also to protect the globalized interests of the Western powers like the US and UK.
Another factor was that Australia had the need of enhancing its submarine capacities vis-à-vis sea power in the region of Indo-Pacific and was to take a strategic decision by getting Barracuda-class and other attack capacities for the guaranteeing of stability over its northern shores that keeps importance for the international trade as well as for the economic and security interests of Canberra. The project also raised the concerns from the side of France, because Australia signed a contract of €31 Billion contract with France’s DCNS group for the acquiring of nuclear-capable submarines. The government of Australia under PM Scott Morrison had to cancel the contract by stating the factor for its convenience, over which they had already agreed to pay the penalties to France. There is no doubt that acquiring of submarines with the help of UK and the US was not only suitable for Australia, but also helpful in the interests and strategic goals attached of major NATO powers like the US and the UK to achieve nuclear proliferation inside Asia-Pacific.
Consequences for Maritime Security in Asia-Pacific:
As per the words of the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin that Australia will be provided with the capacities of nuclear momentum technology for the submarines of Royal Australian Navy, but there will be no requirements in return like attaining a position for the US or UK to station its intermediate-range missiles. This was said after China shown concerns in regard to the aspect of maritime security, non-traditional security threats and a credible way point for the creating of scenario of that of Cold War era. Similarly, the leadership of North Korea, that is already developing nuclear weapons and missiles, challenging the interests of the US and its allies like Japan and South Korea shown concerns by stating the points of potential start for arms race in the region.
The nuclearization by Australia in shape of buying highly enriched uranium (HEU) from the United States for its nuclear-powered submarines that are based on the design of the United States which will be powered by the United Kingdom’s Rolls-Royce PWR3 engines. There was also signing of Australia-US Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) as well as other treaties with inclusion of the United Kingdom that ensures the nuclear proliferation inside Asia-Pacific. Several states inside the region along with China and North Korea has shown concerns in this regard as well, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Kiribati and New Zealand. Important states of ASEAN like Singapore welcomed the formation of such cooperation as a guarantee for the regional stability, and for probably to counter the position of China in the region.
In an article “AUKUS: The Changing Dynamic and Its Regional Implications” by the European Journal of Development Studies gives an overview that formation of this defense pact by the powers of Anglosphere is not only paving path for arms race and spreading of geopolitical chaos inside Asia-Pacific, but also creating potential threats to Maritime Security. It is because the double standards of the United States which is also giving a way to set precedents inside the region of Asia-Pacific and also deviating from its international legal commitment of nuclear non-proliferationwhich can impact not only traditional security aspects of the region, but harming the environment and prospects of executing blue economy in Asia-Pacific. The article further points that “stealthily” use of nuclear submarines by Australia against China in case of escalations will not only impact the international waters but have a credible impact over the islands and EEZs of states like Malaysia, North Korea and Kiribati.
It is stated in the mean research that, “The security dilemma also arises from the potential that AUKUS could undermine ASEAN’s pursuit of preserving a nuclear-free area. In December 1995, in order to establish “the Southeast Asian region as a region free of nuclear” and to contribute “towards international peace and security”, ASEAN members signed the Treaty of "Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ)”. The signing of this agreement was to ensure the freeing of the Pacific Ocean as well as adjoining maritime regions from the nuclear munitions and creating of problems on non-traditional basis that are important for the human security inside the region where ASEAN’s jurisdiction lies.
The nuclearization by AUKUS will ultimately impact the seas which is definitely an integral part for the maritime security and other relevant affairs. The non-traditional aspect which is highly at risk are the technical points of sea lines of communication (SLOC), freedom of movement and seaborne trade. With respect to the point of Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT) of Copenhagen School of Security gives a justification that AUKUS is the credible factor which will impact the collective aspects of security whether they are traditional securities or human securities, including environment, national securities of the states in region, economy, marine life and definitely the conditions of coastal population due to the intense nuclearization through acquisition of HEUs by Australia under the aspect of AUKUS. The global power’s interference determinant also proves here under the theory of RSCT that AUKUS’s aims of Washington D.C. against China will ultimately cost the regional security on potential basis.
Formation of AUKUS took place in the September of 2019, of which it is believed that many underlying aspects are behind the development of such alliance and signing of pact amongst the mean states. There are numerous factors which give a point of view in regards to AUKUS that China and its growing influence inside Asia-Pacific withholds a potential point for development of such coalition.There is no doubt that NATO and non-NATO allies of the United States had teamed up in form of Indo-Pacific alliances to stand against the growing challenge which is being posed by Beijing to the interests of the West inside Asia-Pacific, especially in Indian Ocean and South China Sea.
There is no open remark that China is the target of such measures or esprit de corps of AUKUS, but the ground is clear as some of congressmen and former military officials of the United States believe it as a step towards enhancing the cooperation in shape of Indo-Pacific alliances like Quad or Quad+ that observes the economic and strategic developments of China in shape of “Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)”. The justification for the formation of this alliance was to achieve the outsourcing of nuclear capacities of the United States and the United Kingdom to Australia as a credible partner in Indo-Pacific. The goals of this alliance as specified by its member states is that a multilateral approach, with respect to the point of view of neorealism to not only achieve the stability and security in region but also to protect the globalized interests of the Western powers like the US and UK.
Another factor was that Australia had the need of enhancing its submarine capacities vis-à-vis sea power in the region of Indo-Pacific and was to take a strategic decision by getting Barracuda-class and other attack capacities for the guaranteeing of stability over its northern shores that keeps importance for the international trade as well as for the economic and security interests of Canberra. The project also raised the concerns from the side of France, because Australia signed a contract of €31 Billion contract with France’s DCNS group for the acquiring of nuclear-capable submarines. The government of Australia under PM Scott Morrison had to cancel the contract by stating the factor for its convenience, over which they had already agreed to pay the penalties to France. There is no doubt that acquiring of submarines with the help of UK and the US was not only suitable for Australia, but also helpful in the interests and strategic goals attached of major NATO powers like the US and the UK to achieve nuclear proliferation inside Asia-Pacific.
Consequences for Maritime Security in Asia-Pacific:
As per the words of the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin that Australia will be provided with the capacities of nuclear momentum technology for the submarines of Royal Australian Navy, but there will be no requirements in return like attaining a position for the US or UK to station its intermediate-range missiles. This was said after China shown concerns in regard to the aspect of maritime security, non-traditional security threats and a credible way point for the creating of scenario of that of Cold War era. Similarly, the leadership of North Korea, that is already developing nuclear weapons and missiles, challenging the interests of the US and its allies like Japan and South Korea shown concerns by stating the points of potential start for arms race in the region.
The nuclearization by Australia in shape of buying highly enriched uranium (HEU) from the United States for its nuclear-powered submarines that are based on the design of the United States which will be powered by the United Kingdom’s Rolls-Royce PWR3 engines. There was also signing of Australia-US Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) as well as other treaties with inclusion of the United Kingdom that ensures the nuclear proliferation inside Asia-Pacific. Several states inside the region along with China and North Korea has shown concerns in this regard as well, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Kiribati and New Zealand. Important states of ASEAN like Singapore welcomed the formation of such cooperation as a guarantee for the regional stability, and for probably to counter the position of China in the region.
In an article “AUKUS: The Changing Dynamic and Its Regional Implications” by the European Journal of Development Studies gives an overview that formation of this defense pact by the powers of Anglosphere is not only paving path for arms race and spreading of geopolitical chaos inside Asia-Pacific, but also creating potential threats to Maritime Security. It is because the double standards of the United States which is also giving a way to set precedents inside the region of Asia-Pacific and also deviating from its international legal commitment of nuclear non-proliferationwhich can impact not only traditional security aspects of the region, but harming the environment and prospects of executing blue economy in Asia-Pacific. The article further points that “stealthily” use of nuclear submarines by Australia against China in case of escalations will not only impact the international waters but have a credible impact over the islands and EEZs of states like Malaysia, North Korea and Kiribati.
It is stated in the mean research that, “The security dilemma also arises from the potential that AUKUS could undermine ASEAN’s pursuit of preserving a nuclear-free area. In December 1995, in order to establish “the Southeast Asian region as a region free of nuclear” and to contribute “towards international peace and security”, ASEAN members signed the Treaty of "Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ)”. The signing of this agreement was to ensure the freeing of the Pacific Ocean as well as adjoining maritime regions from the nuclear munitions and creating of problems on non-traditional basis that are important for the human security inside the region where ASEAN’s jurisdiction lies.
The nuclearization by AUKUS will ultimately impact the seas which is definitely an integral part for the maritime security and other relevant affairs. The non-traditional aspect which is highly at risk are the technical points of sea lines of communication (SLOC), freedom of movement and seaborne trade. With respect to the point of Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT) of Copenhagen School of Security gives a justification that AUKUS is the credible factor which will impact the collective aspects of security whether they are traditional securities or human securities, including environment, national securities of the states in region, economy, marine life and definitely the conditions of coastal population due to the intense nuclearization through acquisition of HEUs by Australia under the aspect of AUKUS. The global power’s interference determinant also proves here under the theory of RSCT that AUKUS’s aims of Washington D.C. against China will ultimately cost the regional security on potential basis.
Author:
Syed Haris Shah is a final year student of Bachelors in Peace and Conflict Studies at National Defence University, Islamabad. He works on “Maritime Security” section of Research Center for International Maritime Law and Practice (RCIMLP), with having potential interests towards areas of Human Rights, Dispute Resolution and Security aspects with respect to Maritime Affairs.
RCIMLP
Research Center For International Maritime Law & Practice
