SYDNEY, Sept 18 (Askume) – AUCUS partners Australia, Britain and the United States said on Wednesday they were discussing possible cooperation on defence technology projects with Canada, Japan and New Zealand.
The AUKUS defence technology partnership will provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines over the next decade and is collaborating on the development of other advanced weapons, which they say will enhance deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region amid concerns about China’s naval buildup.
The leaders of Australia, Britain and the United States said the new partners could contribute to the so-called “second pillar” of AUKUS, which does not include nuclear submarines.
“We are consulting with Canada, New Zealand and South Korea to identify possibilities for cooperation on advanced capabilities under the second pillar of AUKUS,” the two leaders said in a joint statement marking the third anniversary of AUKUS.
Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair said during a visit to Tokyo this month that Canada was in talks with AUKUS about joining the program , but he did not provide any details.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the consultation was “a continuation of the New Zealand governments serious and thoughtful exploration of what working with Pillar 2 of AUKUS means for us as a country, both strategically and economically”.
New Zealand has a long history of being nuclear-free.
“We will continue to have open and transparent discussions with New Zealanders on relevant issues,” Peters posted on his X account on Wednesday.
