Anticipating China, Britain Plans To Deploy Nuclear Submarines To Australia: Stationed In Perth, Conduct Patrols Until 2024

British nuclear submarine HMS Victorious (S29). (Wikimedia Commons/UK Ministry of Defense)

JAKARTA - Britain will deploy a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia in a bid to contain China's influence in the region, British newspaper Daily Mail reported on Friday.

The head of the British armed forces, Tony Radakin, is expected to reach agreement on the matter at a naval conference in Sydney next week, thereby fulfilling London's commitments under the AUKUS security alliance of Australia, Britain and the United States, according to the media. .

The submarine will be stationed on the west coast of Australia, precisely in the city of Perth until 2024 to carry out patrol operations. Australian submarine officers will be integrated into the British crew to improve their skills, the paper added.

The Royal Navy has declined to disclose how many of its submarines could be delivered to Australia, saying all operational details regarding the UK's submarine fleet are kept secret. The UK Ministry of Defense also declined to comment on the matter, the Daily Mail said.

The AUKUS partnership, established in September 2021, aims to provide Australia with its own nuclear-powered submarine fleet, with at least eight planned to be delivered.

Russia and China have raised concerns about the security challenges in the region stemming from the establishment of AUKUS, saying it could result in the collapse of the nuclear non-proliferation regime.