Aukus Pact

CONTEXT:

In a recent change of events, France has pulled out itself from defense talks with UK, on the account of Australia pulling out of a major contract with France after signing the Aukus pact to build nuclear-powered submarines.

IMPORTANT POINTERS:

• Aukus Pact is a strategic security pact between UK, US and Australia, seen as a counter against China.
• It is to enhance the development of joint capabilities and technology sharing, foster deeper integration of security and defence-related science, technology, industrial bases and supply chains.
• Australia was required to build a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines with the help of the US and the UK, a capability aimed at promoting stability in the Indo-Pacific region

• Due to faster speed, hard to detect, ability to remain submerged for months and shoot missiles longer distances, these are proposed.

• The US is sharing its submarine technology for the first time in 50 years. It had previously only shared technology with the UK.
• Australia will become just the seventh nation in the world to operate nuclear-powered submarines, after the US, UK, France, China, India and Russia.

Sources

• The Indian Express
• BBC news