The conventional wisdom on Australian security is that, in the face of a more assertive and threatening China in the region, Canberra should align itself closely with the US through the security alliance. The AUKUS pact, in which Australia will acquire at least eight nuclear-powered submarines in partnership with the US and UK, represents a historic elevation of the alliance. The major parties in Australia, the UK and the US agree on the need to counter China.
But there are several risks: the political will of all partners; delivery schedule; the cost of acquiring and sustaining the capability (including its impact on Australia’s broader defence budget); and workforce challenges, both for uniformed personnel and within the submarine-building industry. Should Australian political leaders and defence policy planners concentrate our political and intellectual capital on ensuring AUKUS stay the course? Or could deepening security ties with an erratic America make us less safe?
