The Australian government will have complete control over the submarines it plans to buy from the US with Defence Minister Richard Marles rejecting any suggestion a deal has been done with America that the boats would be used in a war over Taiwan.
AUKUS submarine project agreement announced last week US and British nuclear-powered submarines will make increased visits to Australia, allowing local submariners to become more familiar with the technology.From 2033, Australia is due to obtain the first of its own Virginia-class submarines from the United States. A second Virginia-class should arrive in 2036 and another in 2039.
Marles also reiterated the government’s control of all its nuclear-powered submarines amid claims – including from former prime ministers Paul Keating and“I want to make it really clear that the moment that there is a flag on the first of those Virginia-class submarines in the early 2030s is the moment that that submarine will be under the complete control of the Australian government of the day and again, no-one would have expected that to be any different,” he said.
The federal government has committed to storing all the high-level radioactive waste that will be generated from the 2050s onwards by the fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.Marles insisted the commitment to store the waste on current or future Defence land was limited to fuel for naval propulsion and therefore consistent with the Labor Party’s national policy platform, despite the document ruling out the development of any stage of the nuclear fuel cycle in Australia.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Australia has ‘absolutely not’ committed to join US in event of war over Taiwan, Marles saysDefence minister says Aukus deal does not include arrangement to join US in a potential future conflict with China
Read more »
News live: Marles says Australia has ‘absolutely not’ made commitment to back US in event of Taiwan conflictAustralia news live: NSW set to swelter again as Victoria gets heatwave reprieve
Read more »
Support for potential Taiwan conflict not part of the AUKUS submarine deal, defence minister saysDefence Minister Richard Marles says the federal government made no promises to the United States that Australia would support it in any future conflict over Taiwan in exchange for American nuclear submarines.
Read more »
New submarines will deter blockades that cut us off from the world: MarlesDefence Minister Richard Marles says Australia’s fleet of nuclear-powered submarines will help deter a foreign adversary from launching a shipping blockade which could cut off the country’s trading routes from the rest of the world.
Read more »
Nuclear subs deal won't force Australia to follow the US into a war with China, defence minister saysDefence Minister Richard Marles has rejected criticisms Australia will lose sovereignty while gaining nuclear submarines as part of the AUKUS military deal.
Read more »