Today's D Brief: Subs and TLAMs to the Aussies; France is angry; EU's new Pacific strategy; Cyber spies go rogue; And a bit more.
By Ben Watson
September 16, 2021
The D Brief
Australia will eventually get its first nuclear-powered submarines and Tomahawk cruise missiles in a three-country agreement announced Wednesday by the leaders of Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States—or, “AUKUS,” for those who adore acronyms. Exactly when Australia will get the subs is unclear, since the country has no relevant nuclear infrastructure; officials said an initial assessment could take as long as 18 months.
Why this matters: It will put even more subs that are quiet and long-range in the waters close to China’s growing navy, Defense One’s Jacqueline Feldscher reports. (BTW: none of the three leaders uttered the word “China” once during Wednesday’s three-way announcement.) Beyond just subs, the trilateral deal “will include increased cooperation on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, as well as more integration of industrial bases and supply chains,” Feldscher writes.
Said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison: “Our world is becoming more complex, especially here in our region, the Indo-Pacific. This affects us all. The future of the Indo-Pacific will impact all our futures.”
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2021/09/the-d-brief-september-16-2021/185393/
