AUKUS Alliance Causes Anger In France & EU; NZ Rejects Nuclear Subs

The AUKUS working group alliance between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States - announced by President Biden and Prime Minsters Boris Johnson and Scott Morrison last night - is intended as a tripartite body that can increase US and UK military cooperation with Australia and boost Western-oriented military power in the Indo-Pacific region. However, already the group is making enemies among nations and groups expected to be allies.

• France has lambasted Canberra for reneging on an EUR50bn deal with French defence manufacturer Naval Group for up to 12 diesel-electric submarines. Instead, Australia will develop nuclear submarines using US and UK technology. Defence Minister Florence Parly and Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian stated that the move was "contrary to the spirit and letter of the cooperation between France and Australia".
• The EU is likely to view the AUKUS alliance as a snub, given that the bloc is due to announce its own strategy on defence and security in relation to the Indo-Pacific today. In yesterday's State of the European Union address, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for more 'political will' within the bloc to create a coherent and united EU foreign policy front. The announcement of the AUKUS alliance will reinforce the view that the foreign policy objectives and activities of the EU will be on one side and the US (backed up by the UK) on the other.
• Earlier, New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern announced that any Australia nuclear submarines would not be permitted to enter New Zealand waters (under a 1984 nuclear-free zone policy). There remain significant concerns among other 'Five Eyes' intelligence-sharing network members as to New Zealand's commitment to countering Chinese influence and military expansion in the region. The Ardern gov't has proved notably passive on matters relating to Chinese activity in the region, with its close trading relationship with Beijing seen as too important to risk by criticising President Xi Jinping's gov't.