Australia to splash $10B on base for new nuclear-powered submarines

By Islamuddin Sajid

ANKARA (AA) – Australia will spend an estimated $10 billion to build a base for its new nuclear-powered submarines, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced.

The new facility on the country’s east coast will provide “deployment opportunities in both the Indian and Pacific oceans” and “enhance Australia’s strategic deterrent capability in the Pacific Ocean,” the premier said in a statement issued late on Monday.

“Australia faces a difficult and dangerous security environment and we must continue to invest in growing the capability of our ADF (Australian Defense Force) to ensure we keep Australians safe,” he said.

Morrison stressed that the AUKUS partnership forged with the US and UK last year will give Australia “access to the best technology in the world to support our efforts to deter threats against our national interest in the Indo-Pacific.”

Under the AUKUS security pact, seen as an attempt to counter China’s expanding economic and military influence in the region, the US and UK will help Australia build nuclear-powered submarines.

Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton said the decision to acquire nuclear-powered submarines was driven by “the changing strategic environment.”

He said the new base “will ensure Australia has the infrastructure and facilities ready to support those submarines when they enter service.”

“A new navy base on the east coast will also have significant advantages for training, personnel and for Australia’s defense industry,” he added.​​​​​​​