With a newly formed defence alliance with Britain and the United States, Australia has formally embarked on a hotly contested programme to equip its naval forces with nuclear submarines.

The agreement is the first to be signed publicly since the three countries announced in September the formation of a defence alliance, AUKUS, to confront strategic tensions in the Pacific, where China and the US are at odds.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/aukus-deal-may-spark-off-race-to-acquire-nuclear-submarines-warns-iaea-chief-422298">AUKUS deal may spark off race to acquire nuclear submarines, warns IAEA chief</a>

Defence Minister Peter Dutton and diplomats from the United States and the United Kingdom signed an agreement that allows for the exchange of sensitive "naval nuclear propulsion information" between their nations.

"The agreement will permit cooperation, which will further improve our mutual defence posture," US President Joe Biden said in a statement on Friday ahead of Dutton's signing ceremony in Canberra with US Charge d'Affaires Michael Goldman and British High Commissioner (ambassador) Victoria Treadell.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Is the West dumping Quad for Aukus?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-is-the-west-dumping-quad-for-aukus-413630/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The AUKUS deal will provide Australia with eight state-of-the-art, nuclear submarines capable of long-range missions. In addition, the agreement allows for the sharing of cyber, artificial intelligence, quantum, and unspecified undersea capabilities.

Beijing has expressed anger about the agreement, describing it as an "extremely irresponsible" threat to the region's stability.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-ambassador-accuses-australia-of-deceit-over-submarine-deal-426382">French ambassador accuses Australia of deceit over submarine deal</a>

France was also infuriated by the move, after finding out at the last moment that its own diesel-electric submarine contract with Australia, which was estimated to be worth $65 billion has been scrapped.&nbsp;

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has stood by his handling of the agreement. Unapologetic, he states that it was in his country's national interest and that he knew that the agreement was bound to ruffle some feathers.

With a newly formed defence alliance with Britain and the United States, Australia has formally embarked on a hotly contested programme to equip its naval forces with nuclear submarines.

With a newly formed defence alliance with Britain and the United States, Australia has formally embarked on a hotly contested programme to equip its naval forces with nuclear submarines. The agreement is the first to be signed publicly since the three countries announced in September the formation of a defence alliance, AUKUS, to confront strategic tensions in the Pacific, where China and the US are at odds. Also read | AUKUS deal may spark off race to acquire nuclear submarines, warns IAEA chief Defence Minister Peter Dutton and diplomats from the United States and the United Kingdom signed an agreement that allows for the exchange of sensitive "naval nuclear propulsion information" between their nations. "The agreement will permit cooperation, which will further improve our mutual defence posture," US President Joe Biden said in a statement on Friday ahead of Dutton's signing ceremony in Canberra with US Charge d'Affaires Michael Goldman and British High Commissioner (ambassador) Victoria Treadell. Watch | Gravitas: Is the West dumping Quad for Aukus? The AUKUS deal will provide Australia with eight state-of-the-art, nuclear submarines capable of long-range missions. In addition, the agreement allows for the sharing of cyber, artificial intelligence, quantum, and unspecified undersea capabilities. Beijing has expressed anger about the agreement, describing it as an "extremely irresponsible" threat to the region's stability. Also read | French ambassador accuses Australia of deceit over submarine deal France was also infuriated by the move, after finding out at the last moment that its own diesel-electric submarine contract with Australia, which was estimated to be worth $65 billion has been scrapped. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has stood by his handling of the agreement. Unapologetic, he states that it was in his country's national interest and that he knew that the agreement was bound to ruffle some feathers.

AUKUS: US, Australia, UK sign key deal in nuclear submarine alliance

The chief of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)—the UN’s nuclear watchdog—has warned that the nuclear submarine deal signed between Australia, US and UK could potentially spark off another race for nuclear submarines, suggesting that “other countries might follow Australia’s example”.

During a visit to Washington, Rafael Grossi, the director general of the IAEA, said he had sent a special team to look into the safety and legal implications of the AUKUS partnership announced last month, in which the US and UK will help Australia build a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, reports the Guardian.

“We have to have specific agreements to make sure that whatever they receive technology-wise or material-wise, is under safeguards,” Grossi was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

“There has to be a specific arrangement with the IAEA. Now we have to dot the Is and cross the Ts, which has never been done before, and it’s a very, very demanding process,” he added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russias-foreign-minister-lavrov-slams-quad-aukus-417837">Russia's foreign minister Lavrov slams Quad, AUKUS</a>

Grossi said it “cannot be excluded” that other countries would use the AUKUS precedent to pursue their own nuclear submarine plans.

According to the Guardian, Canada and South Korea are contemplating building nuclear-powered submarines, which can stay underwater longer and are quieter than their conventional counterparts. Brazil too has an ongoing nuclear submarine project.

Watch

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Grossi said one of the key factors that is hindering other nations to emulate Australia was the technical challenges in building a nuclear-propelled submarine.

“To have a nuclear reactor in a submarine in a vessel operating safely is a very difficult thing to do,” he said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-aukus-submarine-dispute-india-and-france-pledge-to-act-jointly-in-indo-pacific-region-414776">After Aukus submarine dispute, India and France pledge to act jointly in Indo-Pacific region</a>

The IAEA director general said the US and the UK need ensure that the nuclear material and technology was transferred to Australia in a safe way that did not raise risks of nuclear weapon proliferation.

He said the issue had been raised in his talks with US secretary of state Antony Blinken in Washington this week.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/biden-you-should-be-aware-that-your-submarine-deal-has-costs-417409">Biden, you should be aware that your submarine deal has costs</a>

“I think he’s fully aware of the implications, and we are going to have an engagement, formal engagement, soon in a tripartite way or otherwise,” Grossi said. “I already set up a taskforce within the inspectorate, composed of very experienced safeguards inspectors and legal experts to look into this.”

The AUKUS pact will also focus on military capability, an sharing of cyber capabilities and other undersea technologies.

The AUKUS is being seen as a counterbalance to China’s growing influence in the South China Sea.

China has slammed the move saying the pact “seriously undermines regional peace and intensifies the arms race.”&nbsp;

The AUKUS deal also spurned France as it forced Australia to cancel a $37bn deal with a French company building diesel-powered submarines.

France was also irked with the fact that despite being a traditional Western ally, it found out about the new pact only a few hours before the public announcement.

(With inputs from agencies)

The chief of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)—the UN’s nuclear watchdog—has warned that the nuclear submarine deal signed between Australia, US and UK could potentially spark off another race for nuclear submarines, suggesting that “other countries might follow Australia’s example”.

The chief of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)—the UN’s nuclear watchdog—has warned that the nuclear submarine deal signed between Australia, US and UK could potentially spark off another race for nuclear submarines, suggesting that “other countries might follow Australia’s example”. During a visit to Washington, Rafael Grossi, the director general of the IAEA, said he had sent a special team to look into the safety and legal implications of the AUKUS partnership announced last month, in which the US and UK will help Australia build a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, reports the Guardian. “We have to have specific agreements to make sure that whatever they receive technology-wise or material-wise, is under safeguards,” Grossi was quoted as saying on Tuesday. “There has to be a specific arrangement with the IAEA. Now we have to dot the Is and cross the Ts, which has never been done before, and it’s a very, very demanding process,” he added. Also read | Russia's foreign minister Lavrov slams Quad, AUKUS Grossi said it “cannot be excluded” that other countries would use the AUKUS precedent to pursue their own nuclear submarine plans. According to the Guardian, Canada and South Korea are contemplating building nuclear-powered submarines, which can stay underwater longer and are quieter than their conventional counterparts. Brazil too has an ongoing nuclear submarine project. Watch Grossi said one of the key factors that is hindering other nations to emulate Australia was the technical challenges in building a nuclear-propelled submarine. “To have a nuclear reactor in a submarine in a vessel operating safely is a very difficult thing to do,” he said. Also read | After Aukus submarine dispute, India and France pledge to act jointly in Indo-Pacific region The IAEA director general said the US and the UK need ensure that the nuclear material and technology was transferred to Australia in a safe way that did not raise risks of nuclear weapon proliferation. He said the issue had been raised in his talks with US secretary of state Antony Blinken in Washington this week. Also read | Biden, you should be aware that your submarine deal has costs “I think he’s fully aware of the implications, and we are going to have an engagement, formal engagement, soon in a tripartite way or otherwise,” Grossi said. “I already set up a taskforce within the inspectorate, composed of very experienced safeguards inspectors and legal experts to look into this.” The AUKUS pact will also focus on military capability, an sharing of cyber capabilities and other undersea technologies. The AUKUS is being seen as a counterbalance to China’s growing influence in the South China Sea. China has slammed the move saying the pact “seriously undermines regional peace and intensifies the arms race.” The AUKUS deal also spurned France as it forced Australia to cancel a $37bn deal with a French company building diesel-powered submarines. France was also irked with the fact that despite being a traditional Western ally, it found out about the new pact only a few hours before the public announcement. (With inputs from agencies)

AUKUS deal may spark off race to acquire nuclear submarines, warns IAEA chief

France is returning its ambassador to Australia to repair the damage caused by a canceled submarine contract. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told parliament the ambassador would now return to Canberra with "two objectives".

France returns ambassador to Australia after submarine row with two goals

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AUKUS: US, Australia, UK sign key deal in nuclear submarine alliance

AUKUS deal may spark off race to acquire nuclear submarines, warns IAEA chief

France returns ambassador to Australia after submarine row with two goals