AUKUS nuke submarines to create 20,000 jobs in Australia
Sydney, Australia, Mar 13 (EFE).- The construction of nuclear submarines in Australia, under the trilateral defense pact with the United States and the United Kingdom, will generate 20,000 jobs in Australia in the next 30 years, said the local media on Monday.
The details about the employment generation came in a government analysis cited by the Australian Financial Review, specifying that Australia would build the submarines in Adelaide with a British design and a combat and weapon system from the US.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in San Diego, where he plans to officially announce the AUKUS deal with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden.
In a statement on Sunday night before holding a bilateral meeting with Sunak in San Diego, Albanese indicated that the acquisition of nuclear submarines “is in the three countries’ interests.”
“The cooperation we’ve had is really exciting. We see that this is an investment in our capability,” Albanese said about the deal that has outraged China.
He said while Australia was investing in its relationships in the region, he had been talking with regional leaders “explaining our position.”
“And it’s been well-received and understood why we’re doing this. It builds on our long-term relationship.”
Albanese traveled to the US over the weekend for the announcement after a tour of India where he met with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi.
Sunak said his country was committed to the Pacific region, which, “even though it’s geographically a long way from where we are, it’s important in a way to demonstrate our commitment to the values that we hold dear as countries.”
“It is a good year for UK-Australia more generally. We have got a free trade agreement, which is going to get passed through and be enforced.”
Australia is expected to buy up to five US submarines before purchasing the nuclear-powered vessels based on a British design and US technology.
The three countries signed the security pact in September 2021, which included the purchase of these submarines as part of efforts to counter Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
The trilateral pact led to the cancelation of a $66-billion contract to construct 12 conventional submarines awarded to France. EFE
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