Australia, the UK and the US have announced a historic security agreement, dubbed ‘AUKUS’, in response to regional security concerns about China’s rising power and influence in the Indo-Pacific. Under the deal, Australia will build nuclear-powered submarines for the first time, using technology provided by the United States. It also signals to a greater presence of the three powers in the region with a focus on military and technological capabilities, including in long-range weapons, cyber and undersea technologies.

How do the three states see AUKUS as contributing to regional security? How have regional states responded to this agreement? And what are the broader implications of Australia’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines?

Panel:

Dr Anna Powles (Senior Lecturer in Security Studies at Massey University, New Zealand)

Associate Professor Maria Rost Rublee (Politics and International Relations, Monash University)

Professor Peter Dean (Director, Defence and Security Institute, University of Western Australia)

Natalie Sambhi (Executive Director, Verve Research)

Dr Rebecca Strating (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia, La Trobe University)(Chair)

Recorded on 27 October, 2021.