Key facts
- Former foreign affairs minister Gareth Evans described Aukus as one of Australia's worst foreign policy decisions.
- Evans argued the agreement primarily serves to counter Chinese nuclear threats to the US mainland.
- He stated that US extended nuclear deterrence is a 'ludicrous delusion' and Australia would not be guaranteed US aid in an existential attack.
- Evans expressed skepticism about the timely delivery of US Virginia-class submarines and the feasibility of jointly built SSN-Aukus submarines.
- He criticized the deal's expected cost as 'wholly speculative' and warned it paints a target on Australia's back.
- An independent public inquiry into the Aukus agreement commenced hearings, with commissioners reportedly skeptical of the pact.
Former Australian foreign affairs minister Gareth Evans has strongly criticized the Aukus security pact, labeling it one of the nation's worst foreign policy decisions. Testifying before an independent public inquiry into the $368 billion nuclear agreement with the US and UK, Evans argued that the transfer and construction of submarines for Australia, expected from the early 2030s, essentially serves as an extension of the American military fleet.
Evans, who served as foreign minister from 1988 to 1996, will tell the hearing that the US would not necessarily come to Australia's aid in an 'existential attack' unless its own assets on Australian soil were threatened. He dismissed the idea that extended nuclear deterrence justifies Australia's commitment, calling the notion that the US would sacrifice San Francisco for Sydney 'a ludicrous delusion'.
He expressed skepticism about the delivery timeline for three US Virginia-class submarines, citing potential construction delays and shortages within the US fleet. Furthermore, Evans suggested that the joint construction of five new-design SSN-Aukus attack submarines by the UK and Australia would be extremely difficult, requiring 'heroic levels of optimism' given the UK's stressed defence-industrial base and increasing costs. Australia's commitment of $4.5 billion over 10 years to boost UK production was also deemed insufficient.
Evans characterized the government's projected cost for the deal as 'wholly speculative.' He concluded that the primary purpose of the submarines is to support US military operations in finding and destroying Chinese submarines perceived as a threat to the US mainland, viewing the entire enterprise through the lens of alliance reinforcement. He warned that Aukus paints a target on Australia's back in potential future military conflicts.
The independent inquiry, backed by trade unions and the Australian Peace and Security Forum, began its hearings in Melbourne. Commissioners, including former Labor minister Peter Garrett and former defence boss Chris Barrie, are reportedly skeptical of the Aukus agreement. Current Labor ministers have accused the inquiry of being anti-Aukus from the outset.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated that she and Defence Minister Richard Marles had discussed Aukus with their UK counterparts. She defended the capability as 'central to assuring Australian sovereignty in a much more contested world,' acknowledging the project's challenges and ambitious nature but emphasizing the necessity of the capability to assure Australia's interests. The UK government confirmed that the first steel for the jointly built submarines will be cut next year, despite ongoing delays and budget overruns in Britain's existing submarine program.