A US nuclear submarine will undergo maintenance in Australia for the first time, reports "Reuters". This is a key step for the AUKUS partners to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific region, said the defense ministers of Australia, Great Britain and the United States - Richard Marles, John Healy and Lloyd Austin, quoted by News.bg.
Over the past year, Australian personnel have been training with the US and the UK, ahead of the submarine's maintenance at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia, which will involve personnel from all three countries.
"Our navies are committed to reinforcing the same guiding principles in Australia that have enabled the United States and Great Britain to operate nuclear-powered vessels safely for almost 70 years," the ministers said in a joint statement.
The AUKUS pact partners have committed to setting the highest non-proliferation standard for Australia's acquisition of conventionally armed and nuclear-powered submarines, they added.
American Virginia-class submarine - "Hawaii" and a US service ship with maintenance equipment and crew have arrived at HMAS Sterling for the maintenance normally carried out at US submarine ports.
The Australian base will be a rotational host to one British Astute-class submarine. and up to four American "Virginia" class submarines from 2027
In this way, Australia will gain experience in operating a fleet of conventionally armed and nuclear-powered submarines over the next decade.
Easing concerns about nuclear waste storage in Australia, which lacks a nuclear power industry, its Ministry of Defense said no radiological material would be transferred ashore during the maintenance.
Last week, AUKUS partners eased controls on defense exports between Australia, Great Britain and the United States.
Australia will acquire American nuclear submarines and jointly develop a new class of conventionally armed nuclear submarines with Britain and the United States over the next two decades.
The rotation of US nuclear submarines through Australia is strengthening deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region, where China is pressuring the Philippines in the South China Sea, US lawmaker and chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaul said last week.< /p>
Maintaining US submarines in Australia is a step that helps better deter aggression in the region. It also upholds a rules-based international order, the ministers added in their joint statement.