The United States Congress has approved a law that permits the sale of Virginia class submarines to Australia as part of the Aukus security agreement.
On Thursday in Washington, a broad law addressing various military objectives, such as Aukus, was approved by the US House of Representatives. This came after it had already been approved by the Senate the day before.
The Australian government has expressed their approval for the development, as they had hoped to pass the legislation before the US entered a politically charged presidential election year.
Richard Marles, the deputy prime minister, expressed that Australians can feel assured that this long-term agreement will actually happen due to the united support from both parties in the US Congress.
“We stand at the brink of a momentous change that will revolutionize our capacity to deter, innovate, and collaborate,” he stated.
-
Join Guardian Australia’s complimentary morning and afternoon email newsletters to receive a daily summary of the latest news.
The 2030s are anticipated to see the US selling Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia through provisions in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Australia plans to purchase at least three submarines from the United States as a temporary measure until domestically-built nuclear-powered submarines become operational in the 2040s.
Nonetheless, the transfer would need to be authorized by the current president. According to the proposal, two of the submarines designated for Australia would be pre-owned, while the remaining one would be newly constructed at the production facility.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which now requires the approval of President Joe Biden, permits Australian contractors to train in US shipyards and authorizes the maintenance of American submarines by Australians in their own country.
The law includes additional measures to facilitate the exchange of advanced defense technology between the US, Australia, and the UK. This involves excluding Australia and the UK from US licensing for defense exports.
Additionally, both nations will be included in Title III of the United States Defense Production Act, providing their companies with opportunities to manufacture and provide vital materials and products through incentives.
The Senate approved the legislation with a vote of 87-13. In the House, which is controlled by Republicans, the outcome was 310 in support and 118 in opposition.
Democratic congressman Joe Courtney, a staunch supporter of Aukus, stated that approving the sale of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia held great importance.
Breaking Defense reported that the individual stated, “This situation has never occurred previously,” following the vote.
“There is still much work to be done in order to make this a reality, but Congress has approved the unique and unprecedented measure of allowing this to occur among the three countries.”
The Senate successfully passed the legislation, which was welcomed by the Australian Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy. Conroy expressed that it was an important day for the alliance between the United States and Australia.
During a trip to Washington DC, Conroy stated on ABC Radio that a large number of individuals doubted the US system’s ability to catch up swiftly and effectively, but they were mistaken.
Skip over the advertisement for the newsletter.
after newsletter promotion
During a meeting at the White House in October, President Biden assured Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that he had full confidence in gaining congressional approval for Aukus. He stated that it was only a matter of when, not if.
In 2021, the Aukus security partnership was introduced. This agreement involves the three nations working together more closely in the areas of defense, specifically in artificial intelligence, hypersonics, and undersea warfare.
Senator Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Senate majority, stated that the Aukus agreement has the potential to greatly impact the situation.
On Wednesday, Schumer stated that the creation of a new set of submarines powered by nuclear energy is necessary in order to combat the threat and impact of the Chinese Communist party in the Pacific region.
Certain members of the US Congress had expressed concerns that the relocation of Virginia class submarines to Australia could potentially harm the US’s own requirements, as their shipyards were already facing difficulties in fulfilling current demands.
To address these concerns, the new law will allow Australia to provide financial support to the US in order to increase the capacity of its shipyards.
The plan calls for Australia to transfer $US3bn ($A4.5bn) to the US industrial base, with the legislation outlining a dedicated account for the payment.
The reported amount of the US$3 billion contribution is believed to be a single occurrence, but the specific timing of the payment is still being discussed between the two governments.
According to the US Congressional Budget Office, the total amount could be divided over multiple years. They predict that the majority of the amount, which is $2 billion in US dollars, will be received in 2025.
The Aukus agreement has received support from both sides of the political spectrum in Australia. However, there are some critics who have expressed worries that it may commit Canberra to joining the US in a potential future conflict with China.
Both former prime ministers, Paul Keating and Malcolm Turnbull, have expressed their belief that the plan would result in Australia relying more on the US and consequently limiting its strategic independence.
The Australian government has consistently stressed its sovereignty over the submarines. In March, Marles stated that the Aukus agreement did not involve any prior commitments to the US regarding a potential conflict involving Taiwan.
Source: theguardian.com
