Former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating has voiced strong concerns about the United States’ push to supply nuclear submarines under the AUKUS pact, warning that the plan could carry deadly consequences for Australia. Keating, who led the country from 1991 to 1996, asserted that Canberra was following Washington and London too closely and that China does not pose a real military threat to Australia at this time.
He argued that it is not healthy for one nation to subordinate the interests of another and then retreat after pressuring allies. Keating warned that the deal might bind Australia to future conflicts in which it would bear significant risks without sufficient national safeguards.
Media coverage captured Keating labeling the estimated 368 billion dollar program to acquire nuclear submarines as a potentially ruinous decision, noting that buying 40 to 50 conventional submarines could have served Australia just as well in many scenarios.
Keating has previously challenged the view that China is a direct threat comparable to the former Soviet Union, pointing out that China engages with international institutions and maintains a degree of normal diplomatic relations with Australia, despite growing tensions linked to Australia’s deepening alliance with the United States.
He also criticized Australia’s partnership with Britain within the AUKUS framework, suggesting that recent strains have damaged Europe’s traditional balance and that some actors may be chasing short-term gains under the banner of a broader global Britain.
Comments from other major players have added to the debate. A former Russian ambassador to the United Kingdom indicated Moscow is increasingly wary of the AUKUS alliance and its potential to shift regional security dynamics. In Beijing, the foreign ministry spokesperson urged Washington, London, and Canberra to abandon a rigid security mindset and cast off what he described as an outdated Cold War mentality.
Australia plans to acquire up to five Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines from the United States as part of the AUKUS initiative. The Australian government has also allocated a substantial portion of its budget to fund the program, reflecting the high costs associated with developing and integrating a new fleet of advanced submarines under the agreement with the United States and the United Kingdom.