edited by: Shankhneel Sarkar
Last Update: January 06, 2023, 15:35 IST
Crew members stand on top of the submarine during the commissioning of the USS Illinois, the 13th ship of the Virginia class of submarines, in Groton, Connecticut, US (Image: Reuters file)
Senators Reid and Inhofe stated that the production of Virginia-class nuclear submarines could put pressure on the US submarine industrial base.
A Republican and a Democrat senator have urged US President Joe Biden not to sell nuclear-powered submarines to Australia because it would negatively impact US national security and also because the ships are ‘scarce’.
The leak was reported by breaking defense And this Guardian, The two senators were Rhode Island Democrat Jack Reed and the longest-serving Oklahoma senator and Republican Jim Inhofe.
Reports indicated that the US is facing pressure from within not to sell the submarines to Australia and not before Australia is able to build its own as part of the AUKUS alliance.
it means, according to Guardian Reports, that it could take decades for Australia to get its own nuclear submarine.
Australia tried to reduce the leak, according to Guardian, and said that ‘Australia’s path to acquire nuclear-powered submarines is taking shape’. The comments were made by a spokesman for the Australian Defense Minister, Richard Marles, who further said an announcement would be made in the first half of the year.
Australia is expected to make an announcement regarding a possible purchase of nuclear submarines from the US or the UK by March.
“We are concerned that what was initially promoted as a ‘do no harm’ opportunity to support Australia and the United Kingdom and create a long-term competitive advantage for the US and its Pacific allies may result in zero-sum can turn into a game. Highly advanced U.S. [Virginia-class submarines]Inhofe and Reid said in their letter to US President Joe Biden, which was accessed Guardian And breaking defense,
Senators called for a ‘sober assessment of the facts’ and for action to be taken in a way that does not stress the US submarine industrial base. He urged the US President to adopt a ‘do no harm’ approach to the AUC talks and ‘ensure that sovereign US national security capabilities are not undermined’.
The US plans to build a fleet of at least 60 nuclear-powered submarines but is struggling to meet its needs.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in December that the Biden administration was committed to providing this capability to Australia as soon as possible.
The senators warned that selling or transferring the Virginia-class submarines before the US Navy’s requirements are met could challenge its capabilities to meet sovereign wartime and peaceful needs.
The senators said that even though they understand the strategic importance of a US ally operating a world-class nuclear navy and allowing it to dominate China, this should not come at the cost of ignoring ‘contemporary realities’. ,
Australia went back on its $90bn conventional submarine contract with France to obtain nuclear submarine technology from the US or UK as part of the AUKUS group.
In June 2022, former Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton said that Australia would try to negotiate “to get the first two submarines off the production line out of Connecticut”.
Although experts say that America had made it clear at that time itself that it would not be able to make additional submarines.
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