Several U.S. nuclear-powered submarines will be deployed to Australia this year
Australia's defense minister said on Friday that the U.S. Navy will deploy multiple nuclear-powered submarines to a strategic port in Australia this year. According to U.S. officials, the submarines will be stationed near Perth, enabling the U.S. Navy to get closer to the South China Sea.
A news report from Sydney by AFP on the 12th stated that under the AUKUS military cooperation agreement among Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom, four submarines commanded by the U.S. military will take turns being stationed at a port on Australia’s west coast starting next year.
According to U.S. officials, the submarines will be based at a facility near Perth, which holds strategic significance by bringing the U.S. Navy closer to the South China Sea.
Australia's Defense Minister Richard Marles traveled to London this week to discuss AUKUS, but the talks were overshadowed by the sudden resignation of his British counterpart, John Healey, who criticized insufficient defense funding.
After meeting with Australian Defense Minister Marles on Thursday, Britain’s Defense Secretary Healey had pledged support for the AUKUS agreement, yet he resigned just before his scheduled visit to Portsmouth Naval Base.
Under the AUKUS agreement, Canberra will purchase three used American submarines starting in 2032 and plans to jointly build new nuclear-powered submarines with the United Kingdom.
The AUKUS submarine program is central to Australia’s defense strategy. Government estimates suggest the total cost of the project over the next 30 years could reach as high as $23.5 billion.
Source: sputniknews
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867816414326791/
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