？
Close
Watch live as Biden and Johnson give joint address on national security
Boris Johnson has announced a new national security alliance with the leaders of the US and Australia which has been viewed as an attempt to counter China‘s global power.
The prime minister spoke alongside US president Joe Biden and Australian prime minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday to unveil the AUKUS partnership, which will see the three countries share expertise on issues such as cyber warfare and artificial intelligence.
“I'm delighted to join President Biden and Prime Minister Morrison to announce that the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States are creating a new trilateral defence partnership, known as Aukus, with the aim of working hand-in-glove to preserve security and stability in the Indo-Pacific,” Mr Johnson said in a joint press conference.
It is thought that the move is aimed at pushing back against China’s advances in technology and military matters, especially following tensions between Beijing and Australia in recent months.
The joint announcement has also confirmed that the US will provide a nuclear-powered submarine to Australia, with Scott Morrison’s government abandoning its $90bn submarine deal with France.
Key Points Britain forms nuclear AUKUS alliance with Australia and US to curb China Australia’s Morrison insists new submarines will not field nuclear weapons China will likely view AUKUS alliance as ‘provocative’, ex-US security official says
Show latest update 1631746776
In an awkward moment from the joint press conference earlier today, Joe Biden appeared to forget the Australian prime minister’s name as he gave his remarks on the new partnership.
The US president could only refer to Scott Morrison as “that fella Down Under” and “Mr Prime Minister”, while he mentioned Boris Johnson correctly by name.
You can see the clip below:
Conrad Duncan 15 September 2021 23:59
1631745963 Former Trump adviser says new alliance is significant step to counter China
Equipping Australia with nuclear-powered submarines is a significant step that will help the US and its allies on military and diplomatic fronts, a former Trump adviser has said.
Matt Pottinger, who served as deputy national security adviser in the Trump administration, said that underwater warfare capabilities had been Beijing's “Achilles' heel”.
“When you have a strong military, it provides a backdrop of deterrence that gives countries the confidence to resist bullying,” Mr Pottinger, who is now a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, said.
“Part of the problem right now is that Beijing has gotten rather arrogant and it's been less willing to engage productively in diplomacy.”
A nuclear-powered submarine fleet would allow Australia to conduct longer patrols, giving the new alliance a stronger presence in the region.
Conrad Duncan 15 September 2021 23:46
1631745089 China will likely view AUKUS alliance as ‘provocative’, ex-US security official says
The unveiling of the AUKUS alliance is a “very bold step” for Australia as the partnership will likely be viewed as a provocative move by China, a former senior US security official has said.
James Clapper, a former Director of National Intelligence, told CNN on Wednesday that the move would “breathe life into the notion of a pivot to Asia” in foreign policy over the coming decade.
However, he suggested that it would come with challenges for Australia due to its close relationship with China, adding: “Given the dependence that Australia has on China for its economy, it's a bold step because clearly the Chinese will view this as provocative… and they should.”
You can find his comments in full below:
Conrad Duncan 15 September 2021 23:31
1631743907 Biden touts ‘strength’ of alliances with UK and Australia
US president Joe Biden has praised the close partnership between his country, the UK and Australia as the three nations unveiled their new defence alliance at a joint press conference.
Mr Biden said on Wednesday that the countries had “long been faithful and capable partners who are even closer today”, adding that the three leaders needed to work together to manage the challenges of the 21st century.
Our reporter, Eric Garcia, has the full story below:
Biden praises alliances with UK and Australia as nations announce new nuclear pact Comes amid announcement of new nuclear submarines.
Conrad Duncan 15 September 2021 23:11
1631742802
You can find Joe Biden’s comments below on the plans to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines as part of the AUKUS alliance:
Conrad Duncan 15 September 2021 22:53
1631741624 Johnson: Defence partnership marks ‘new chapter’ in UK, US and Australia’s ‘friendship'
The UK’s new alliance with the US and Australia marks a “new chapter” in global relations and will aim to make the world safer and generate jobs across the country, Boris Johnson has claimed.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Mr Johnson said he was “delighted” to join US president Joe Biden and Australian prime minister Scott Morrison to announce the AUKUS partnership.
He said: “We are opening a new chapter in our friendship and the first task of this partnership will be to help Australia acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, emphasising of course that the submarines in question will be powered by nuclear reactors, not armed with nuclear weapons, and our work will be fully in line with our non-proliferation obligations.”
Mr Johnson added: “Perhaps most significantly, the UK, Australia and the US will be joined even more closely together, reflecting the measure of trust between us, the depth of our friendship, and the enduring strength of our shared values of freedom and democracy.
“Now the UK will embark on this project alongside our allies, making the world safer and generating jobs across the United Kingdom.”
Conrad Duncan 15 September 2021 22:33
1631741075 Australia’s Morrison insists new submarines will not field nuclear weapons
Australia’s prime minister Scott Morrison has insisted that new submarines provided by the US as part of the AUKUS alliance will not be used for nuclear weapons.
Under the partnership, the US will help Australia with the technology and capability to deploy nuclear-powered submarines.
Mr Morrison said on Wednesday night that the watercraft would be built in Adelaide in close cooperation with the US and UK, but Australia would not be fielding nuclear weapons.
“We will continue to meet all our nuclear non-proliferation obligations,” he said.
Conrad Duncan 15 September 2021 22:24
1631740717
Boris Johnson’s comments on the new alliance can be found below:
“The UK, Australia and US are natural allies – while we may be separated geographically, our interests and values are shared. The AUKUS alliance will bring us closer than ever, creating a new defence partnership and driving jobs and prosperity.
“This partnership will become increasingly vital for defending our interests in the Indo-Pacific region and, by extension, protecting our people back at home.”
Conrad Duncan 15 September 2021 22:18
1631740577
The new UK foreign secretary Liz Truss has described the AUKUS alliance as a “landmark” security partnership designed to deepen ties in the Indo-Pacific.
“We will work together to promote stability in a region that will become ever more important for the UK’s prosperity and security,” Ms Truss wrote on Twitter.
Conrad Duncan 15 September 2021 22:16
1631740336
You can watch the joint press conference live below:
Watch: Watch live as Biden and Johnson give joint address on national security Watch live as US president Joe Biden, UK prime minister Boris Johnson and Australian prime minister Scott Morrison deliver remarks on a strategic national security initiative on Wednesday (15 September).The leaders are expected to announce a new security pact, which would allow the three nations to share military technology and intelligence. The initiative is widely seen as an effort to push back on the growing power of China in these arenas.It is believed the alliance will be known by the acronym AUKUS.
Conrad Duncan 15 September 2021 22:12
Newer 1 / 2 Older