Britain’s new Defense Secretary Liz Truss today defended her country’s security agreement (AUKUS) with the United States and Australia. The new alliance caused a serious diplomatic row with France, but Minister Truss did not comment on this. Prime Minister Boris Johnson had earlier said in Parliament that relations with France remained “very strong”.
According to the British defense minister, the deal will improve the security situation and could create hundreds of highly skilled jobs, she wrote in an opinion piece in the Sunday Telegraph, Sunday edition and the sister newspaper of the Daily Telegraph. For example, the Americans are expected to work with the British to develop new nuclear-powered submarines for Australia, causing the latter to cancel its contract with France. The three countries will also share technologies related, for example, to artificial intelligence. Minister Truss said the agreement demonstrated the importance the UK attaches to the Pacific region. “We are the champions of freedom and free enterprise in the world. But liberties must be defended, so we are building strong bonds around the world.” AUKUS is a counterweight to China’s growing military influence in Southeast Asia. The French accuse the United Kingdom of being the “junior partner” of the alliance and a “subordinate” of the United States. Earlier this week, France recalled its ambassadors from the United States and Australia, but not from London. (Belgium)
According to the British defense minister, the deal will improve the security situation and could create hundreds of highly skilled jobs, she wrote in an opinion piece in the Sunday Telegraph, Sunday edition and the sister newspaper of the Daily Telegraph. For example, the Americans are expected to work with the British to develop new nuclear-powered submarines for Australia, causing the latter to cancel its contract with France. The three countries will also share technologies related, for example, to artificial intelligence. Minister Truss said the agreement demonstrated the importance the UK attaches to the Pacific region. “We are the champions of freedom and free enterprise in the world. But liberties must be defended, so we are building strong bonds around the world.” AUKUS is a counterweight to China’s growing military influence in Southeast Asia. The French accuse the United Kingdom of being the “junior partner” of the alliance and a “subordinate” of the United States. Earlier this week, France recalled its ambassadors from the United States and Australia, but not from London. (Belgium)
