In a White House press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Stamer, U.S. President Donald Trump's response to a question raised concerns about one of the largest security alliances of modern times.
“Will you be discussing AUKUS with the Prime Minister, sir?” a reporter asked Trump.
“What does that mean?” he replied.
If you also are unsure, here's what it means.
AUKUS
AUKUS is a security partnership between Australia, the U.S, and the UK, first announced in 2021.
Its main aim is to “promote security and stability” in the Indo-Pacific region. The trilateral agreement has been broadly seen as an attempt by Western nations to curb China’s influence in the region.
For Australia, the main part of the deal involves obtaining and developing nuclear-powered submarines.
Nuclear
Under the agreement, Australia will initially buy nuclear-powered submarines from the U.S. before boosting its own capabilities to build them here.
These submarines will be powered by on-board nuclear reactors. They won’t carry nuclear weapons; rather, they’ll be armed with “conventional” weapons like missiles.
However, there is currently a national ban on building nuclear facilities. Australia has one operational nuclear site which is only used for research.
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Updated deal
In August, AUKUS partners signed a deal to provide Australia with the technology needed to build and operate nuclear-powered submarines.
In a letter addressed to Congress, then U.S. President Joe Biden said the deal would facilitate the “transfer of naval nuclear propulsion plants” to Australia.
These “plants” are the submarines’ engine rooms.
The U.S. and UK, which both have established nuclear industries, would sell equipment to Australia allowing it to build submarine plants.
Part of the agreement also includes information-sharing between the partners to “safely operate, maintain, and regulate this technology”.
Work is already underway in Adelaide to convert an existing shipyard into a naval base for an AUKUS fleet.
Australia
South Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has raised concerns Australia could become a “nuclear waste dumping ground”.
Defence Minister Richard Marles rejected the accusation last year, telling the ABC “there is no prospect” of that.
AUKUS has broad support from the Opposition, who developed the plan during their last term. Current Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham previously called the deal a “great step forward”.
