Kurt Campbell, Joe Biden’s National Security Council co-ordinator for the Indo Pacific, stated that the US is now looking for other working group partners, and the door is open for further talks with New Zealand after the launch of the ‘critical components’ of AUKUS. He expressed that New Zealand has shown interest in collaborating with AUKUS in the cyber arena. Meanwhile, Australia’s Minister of Defence Richard Marles clarified that Australia did not promise to join any potential conflict over Taiwan in exchange for access to American submarines. The future nuclear-powered submarines will protect shipping routes to and from Australia, and securing trade pathways is crucial, especially in the South China Sea. Former Australian prime ministers Paul Keating and Malcolm Turnbull have expressed their concerns about how Australia can maintain its sovereignty in the nuclear submarines deal.
US Defence Official Interested in Further Talks with New Zealand
Kurt Campbell, Joe Biden’s National Security Council co-ordinator for the Indo Pacific, spoke to the media in Wellington and shared that the US is looking for other working group partners after the launch of the ‘critical components’ of AUKUS. He added that New Zealand has shown interest in collaborating with AUKUS in the cyber arena.
Campbell also confirmed that the United States is continuing its diplomatic push in the Pacific, and he plans to visit Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, and the Cook Islands as the next stops on his diplomacy tour.
The US is gratified by the number of countries that want to work with them in cutting-edge technologies such as hypersonics and cybersecurity. Campbell said that he is happy to hear that New Zealand is interested and the door is open for further talks.
Australia’s Access to American Submarines
Australia’s Minister of Defence Richard Marles clarified that the country did not promise to join any potential conflict over Taiwan in exchange for access to American submarines. He stressed that any decision regarding a future conflict would be made by the government of the day.
Under the AUKUS pact, Australia will get three American-made Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines and will build up to eight more nuclear-powered submarines domestically. Marles emphasized that securing trade pathways is crucial, particularly in areas such as the South China Sea.
Australia aims to maintain the rules-based order, freedom of navigation, and freedom of overflight. Marles believes that Australia needs to have a capability that can back up that interest, and the future nuclear-powered submarines will protect shipping routes to and from Australia.
Former Australian prime ministers Paul Keating and Malcolm Turnbull have expressed their concerns about how Australia can maintain its sovereignty in the nuclear submarines deal.
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