Despite cuts to US funding for nuclear weapons programs, Australia is confident the United States will follow through with the sale of nuclear-powered submarines as part of the AUKUS deal. The weapons deal is under the AUKUS partnership signed in 2021. Under the deal, the U.S. will sell Australia between three and five Virginia-class attack submarines starting in the early 2030s. However, backlogs at U.S. shipyards and a shrinking submarine fleet could jeopardize the sales. Furthermore, the Biden administration cut its funding request for the Virginia class. But despite these uncertainties, Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy said Australia has total confidence in the AUKUS deal and that the U.S. was making good progress upgrading its shipyards, so they could produce the Virginia class for both navies. The U.S. Navy is building an average of slightly more than one Virginia-class submarine a year, well short of the estimated 2.33 needed to grow its fleet and sell Australian boats
In my opinion, the AUKUS deal is a great way to US, UK, and Australia is a great way to strengthen all countries involved, and security in a strong defense partnership. Additionally, the deal involves all countries working together to enhance their capabilities and share advanced technology, particularly in the field of nuclear-powered submarines. I think the partnership is significant because it promotes regional stability. Considering all this I think it’s vital that the US upholds its end of the deal by providing Australia with the nuclear-submarines. It can be problematic if the US doesn’t uphold their deal as negative consequences can follow. In all, it can lead to a breakdown in trust and cooperation between countries involved. Without trust, it becomes difficult to work effectively together and have goals. Countries need to honor their commitment to maintain strong partnerships and ensure success.
The article and its contents relate to our international relations class in several ways. First off, AUKUS is an IGO, which is a concept we discussed in class. An IGO is an intergovernmental organization that is made up of countries that come together to address common issues and work toward shared goals. Additionally, they play a significant role in promoting international cooperation and addressing global challenges. AUKUS also has an emphasis on security and the importance of allies, which is another topic we discussed.