AUKUS

AUKUS ( AW-kəs), also styled as Aukus, is a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, which have stated that its goals are to "promote a free and open Indo-Pacific that is secure and stable." Initially announced on 15 September 2021, the partnership involves two lines of effort referred to as pillars. Pillar 1 focuses on Australia acquiring nuclear-powered attack submarines and the rotational basing of US and UK nuclear-powered attack submarines in Australia. Pillar 2 entails the collaborative development of advanced capabilities in six technological areas: undersea capabilities, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and autonomy, advanced cyber, hypersonic and counter-hypersonic capabilities, and electronic warfare; and in two broader functional areas: innovation and information sharing. AUKUS is widely seen as a response to the perception among its members that the People's Republic of China poses a threat to the Indo-Pacific region. The Chinese government said, when the partnership was announced, that it risked "severely damaging regional peace" and had a "cold-war mentality". A direct result of the creation of the partnership was Australia's controversial cancellation of a French-Australian submarine contract worth €56 billion (A$90 billion). The Australian government only gave the French government a few hours' notice of this before the public announcement of AUKUS. The Australian government agreed to a €555 million (US$584 million) compensation settlement with French defence contractor Naval Group.