Former Australian Prime Minister Keating: Australia, the United States and Britain nuclear submarine cooperation is Australia's "worst decision" in a century

Sydney, 3 Mar (Xinhua) -- Former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating said on 15 March that Australian-US-British nuclear submarine cooperation is the "worst decision" of the Australian Government in a century, and this decision is not conducive to Australia's own interests and regional security.

Keating attended the National Association of Journalists of Australia event on the same day. In a written statement, he said the current Australian Labour government was ignoring Asia's security for the sake of the security of the "Anglo world". In Asia, Australia has identified itself as a vassal of the United States as an Atlantic country. There have been situations in Australia's history when its international interests have been overwhelmed by the interests of its allies and its foreign policy has been replaced by defence policy.

Keating said Australia's abandonment of France's submarine program in favor of buying nuclear submarines from the United States was not only costly, but also a hasty decision that was not well thought out.

"It's not a good sight for our country to sign an agreement with another country, the United States, to serve their preferences, followed by the brainless British." He said.

Keating pointed out that the result of Australian-US-British nuclear submarine cooperation is that Australia spends a lot of money to send support to the defense enterprises of the United States and Britain. Spending hundreds of billions of dollars to build nuclear submarines to contain China is not good for either side. China is not and will not pose a threat to the United States.

Mr Keating said the submarine program would not solve the challenges or the security problems of Australians and the continent, despite the enormous cost.

In September 2021, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia announced a trilateral security partnership and nuclear submarine cooperation. Some international arms control experts pointed out that the United States and Britain helped Australia build nuclear submarines with the risk of proliferation of nuclear materials and technology, which will impact the global nuclear non-proliferation regime.