AUKUS- The security pack among Australia, UK, and USA – a security threat to China and a temporary backstab for France.

Author- Adnan Pavel

Although China has been arguably Australia’s biggest trading partner for many years but animosity between these two resurfaced since the beginning of the Covid-19 and number of issues including trade and foreign policy disputes have brought the relationship at its low point in 2020. Australia has been constantly advocated by both the United States and the United Kingdom to expand its military capacity and to revive its current resolve to face ever growing threat from China. American needs reliable and resilient regional partner in the Indo-Pacific Command, Australia is the right candidate. Australia signed a defence contract with the French to acquire 12 attack-class submarines, but I think it was a huge mistake to give this almost 90 billion US dollars contract to France at the first place. It was neither economically nor environmentally feasible. Furthermore, this deal doesn’t uphold Australia’s determination to protect its national security interest, nor it helps to keep its two most trusted allies Britain and USA content. It also had significant political concern about domestic job creation in Australia.            

The French authority is devasted with such move from three of its so-called allies. In modern history it is very rare for the France authority to recall its Ambassadors from the USA and Australia. Furthermore, France has withdrew from the Franco-British defence ministers’ summit that was scheduled for this week in London! Quite understandable but the French leadership was given warning about this development many months ago. 

This situation illustrates another important key issue; can America really depend on its European partner for strategic military interest? My humble understanding says NO. For far too long, Europe’s security strategy has been designed as a defensive force rather than offensive. Without US support, Europe looks frail against Putin’s Russia. As a pragmatic and considerate ally, shouldn’t Europe help USA freeing its resources and focus from protecting Europe’s Eastern frontier and allocate those humans and gears to Indo-Pacific Command and to other key strategic areas?             

AUKUS- This new trilateral security deal will underscore many important security issues including AI and cyber warfare. Australia, UK, and USA must continue engaging France and other key allies for future dialogue but must hold their ground strong for time being. Finally, this deal would ensure Australia’s readiness for any security threat from China, it would uphold America’s strategic interest in the region and last but not least Britain would be a huge gainer financially, diplomatically and militarily from this package.  

The author is an Associate Fellow (Higher Education Academy, UK) and member- The American Political Science Association, Political Studies Association (UK), The Society for Political Methodology- Cambridge University Press, International Institute for Strategic Studies (UK).