(Bloomberg) — Australia, the US and UK are moving closer to expanding advanced technology cooperation with other Indo-Pacific nations under the Aukus security accord, as they seek a strategic edge in competition with China.
Canada, South Korea and New Zealand were named as potential partners for collaboration on high-tech research and development under Aukus, according to a statement released by the original three nations on Tuesday to mark three years since the deal was signed.
Aukus members are already exploring opportunities with Japan to “improve interoperability of their maritime autonomous systems as an initial area of cooperation,” the statement said.
This is the closest Aukus nations have come to expanding the agreement since it first came into effect in 2021. The grouping was formed at a time of rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, in the face of growing strategic competition between Washington and Beijing.
The security partnership consists of two pillars, the first aims to provide Australia with a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines by the early 2030s. The second focuses on research and development of critical technologies and has generated interest among US allies across the Indo-Pacific region.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ruled out any formal expansion of Aukus to include a fourth country, saying any additional collaboration would exist within the framework of the current agreement.
“If there can be gains that are in the interests of the three Aukus partners but in addition any partners outside the direct Aukus relationship, then that will be considered,” he said in April, while adding that Japan was a “natural candidate” to work on such projects.
In Tuesday’s statement, the three countries said they were making progress across a range of fronts, including “quantum technologies, cyber capabilities, hypersonics, and electronic warfare.”
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