Defense Minister Peter Dutton signed a text authorizing the exchange of “information on naval nuclear propulsion” between their countries.
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France definitively discarded. Australia officially embarked on Monday, November 22, in a highly contested program to equip itself with nuclear-powered submarines as part of a new defense alliance with Great Britain and the United States. Defense Minister Peter Dutton signed an agreement with British and American diplomats authorizing the exchange of“information on naval nuclear propulsion” between their countries.
This is the first agreement signed and made public since the announcement in September by the three countries of their new defense alliance, named AUKUS, to deal with growing strategic tensions between the United States and China in the Pacific.
This alliance was accompanied by the cancellation by Australia of a mega-contract for the purchase of 12 French submarines with conventional propulsion for a value of 90 billion Australian dollars (55 billion euros), causing a lasting quarrel between Paris and Canberra.
The deal will help Australia complete an 18-month study on the acquisition of submarines, said To fart Dutton after signing the deal in Canberra on Monday with US Chargé d’Affaires Michael Goldman and British High Commissioner to Australia Victoria Treadell. Details of the acquisition have yet to be decided, including whether Australia will opt for US or UK nuclear-powered attack submarines.