Amna: Beijing said today that
the United States, the united
Kingdom, and Australia had
embarked on a "Dangerous path"
after those three countries
announced a historic submarine
agreement yesterday in San
Diego.
It's known as aukus, for
Australia, U.K., and U.S.
Nick schifrin is back with this
look at how it will extend one
of the most important American
weapons systems into waters that
China claims as its own.
Nick: Military officials call it
one of their crown jewels.
The nuclear powered attack
submarine, with technology so
sensitive, it hasn't been shared
with any ally in 65 years, until
now.
>> Aukus has one overriding
objective, to enhance the
stability in indo-pacific amid
rapidly shifting global
dynamics.
Nick: President Biden made the
announcement yesterday,
alongside British prime minister
rishi sunak, and Australian
prime minister Anthony albenese.
>> One of the vessels you see
behind me is a Virginia class
nuclear-powered submarine, the
uss Missouri.
Top of the line submarines are
the vanguard of U.S. Naval
power.
Nick: As we saw for ourselves
late last year aboard the same
Virginia class, uss Missouri.
Navy commander Carlos Martinez
walked me on board.
It can stay underwater longer,
and travel farther, than
conventionally-powered
submarines.
The crew shows how they get a
torpedo ready to launch.
Besides torpedoes that can
attack ships, these submarines
conduct surveillance, and can
carry cruise missiles to attack
targets on land.
It's the one system experts
agree is the most difficult for
China to detect and can sail
through what for China are the
most sensitive waters.
>> If the operational commander
tells me as a ship that he wants
me to go to a certain area via a
certain route that's
international waters, that's
certainly within our right to do
so.
Nick: Does that include the
Taiwan strait?
>> The international waters of
the Taiwan strait are available
for navigation.
Nick: The deal with Australia,
the U.K. And the U.S. Develops
in stages.
This year, Australian sailors
will embark with American and
British sailors.
As early as 2027, one U.K.
Astute class submarine, and up
to four U.S. Virginia class
submarines will rotate through a
base in western Australia.
Beginning in the early 2030's,
the U.S. Will sell Australia as
many as five Virginia class
submarines.
Meanwhile, Australia and the
U.K. Will both build a new
submarine, called the ssn-aukus,
ready in the U.K. By the late
2030's, and in Australia by the
early 2040's.
It's designed to complicate
China's military plans.
As beijing tests more missiles
than the rest of the world
combined and has launched one of
the fastest military
modernizations in history.
Richard marles is Australia's
defense minister.
>> We are witnessing the biggest
conventional military build-up
that we have seen since the end
of the second World War, and we
need to respond to this.
A failure to do so would see us
be condemned by history.
Nick: The agreement as part of
the Biden administration's plan
to strengthen its allies.
Last week, president XI jinping
accused the U.S. By name of
trying to contain China.
To discuss this and the American
drone forced down by Russian
jets over the black sea, we turn
to Mara Karlin, who is
performing the duties of deputy
under secretary of defense for
policy.
Welcome back to the newshour.
Mara: Thank you for having me.
Nick: What consequences will
Russia face for helping down a
U.S. Drone?
Mara: This was a routine
operation the mq-9 was
performing and it did it in
international airspace.
What we saw by the Russians was
unprofessional.
It was incompetent and it was
unsafe.
Our colleagues from the state
department are engaging the
Russian government right now,
but it is quite unfortunate to
see them take such steps.
Nick: Will there be a direct
consequence?
Mara: Our colleagues at the
state department will speak with
them about what happened but I
want to underscore, it is
international airspace.
We all know how to operate in
safe, professional ways and that
is not what we saw from the
Russians.
Nick: Let's turn to aukus.
You said this agreement is not
aimed at anyone country, but to
the independently have nuclear
powered attack submarines
complicate beijing's plans if it
were to go to war?
Mara: It is not about anyone
country.
It is about stability and
security in the indo pacific.
It is about delivering
deterrences in all four phases
--
Nick: Of the agreement.
Mara: Of the agreement.
Having three allies, three very
close allies knitted together
with this tremendous undersea
capability will be important for
ensuring this region, the indo
pacific region can maintain its
security, stability and
prosperity going forward.
Nick: Is China more deterred by
Australia having a nuclear
powered attack simmering than it
is by -- attack
submarine than the U.S.?
Mara: The U.S. Is lucky to have
a tremendous network of allies
and partners in tremendous
undersea capabilities.
Having three allies with these
capabilities, strengthening our
defenses shows that we are
willing to work together in any
number of challenges.
The U.K., Australia have stood
by the United States.
Together, we have dealt with no
shortage of challenges around
the globe and now we are
especially focused on the indo
pacific.
Nick: You announced that
Australia would purchase new and
older Virginia class submarines.
Will the U.S. Shipbuilding
industry have to build extra
submarines for Australia or will
Australian cut the line and get
a sub that was supposed to go to
the U.S.?
Mara: Australia will be
purchasing a mix of submarines
that are in service, and newer
submarines.
Those will deliver.
The first one will be enhanced
in less than a decade which is
really fast given the
significance of this capability.
Our submarine industrial base
has needed a lot of investment.
The Biden administration has
pushed for that investment and
congress has delivered.
The defense budget was unveiled
yesterday.
There is $.6 billion in
increasing our part -- $4.6
billion in increasing our
production.
Australia will also be
contributing a proportional
amount.
We will work together with the
Australians to make sure, as we
have throughout the last 18
months of developing this
massive plan that the heads of
state have devised in ensuring
they are getting what they need
and we are doing so as well.
Nick: Well Australia get to cut
the line?
Mara: It is not an issue of
cutting the line.
It is an issue of making sure we
can increase our maintenance.
We have a lot more submarines --
we have a maintenance backlog.
That will be very important to
make sure our submarines are
ready and out and about, and to
be able to increase that
production.
We have put in thanks to the
congress extra funding in that
industrial base.
That early investment will have
an outsized effect and I think
we are increasingly going to see
we have the facilities and the
talent that we need to make all
of this a reality.
Nick: You acknowledged there has
been maintenance issues, huge
production issues.
The congress has funded two
Virginia class submarines per
year.
Only 1.2 on average being
produced.
You cited the $4.6 billion
number but the Republicans on
the hill say that is not enough.
Take a look at this statement
from the top Republican on the
senate armed services committee.
"The Biden administration has
never asked congress for the
type of generational investment
for resources to meet our own
Navy's submarine requirements,
let alone additional
requirements."
This is somewhat in favor of
aukus.
What is your response?
Mara: I have been pleased to see
the bipartisan support.
It really is a generational leap
in this alliance.
It is a game changer.
In terms of the comments on the
need to invest in the submarine
industrial base, we are working
closely with congress to be able
to max the investment that the
industrial base can absorb.
We are studying really hard to
see what effect the investments
are having as we go forward.
Nick: The effect that aukus can
have.
Do you think it will tax the
industrial base further?
Mara: I think it will help lift
up the submarine base for us,
the United Kingdom and
Australia.
Nick: Because Australia will
invest in the American
industrial base just like the
U.S. Is investing in themselves?
Mara: They are indeed but I
would underscore the increasing
recognition that we as a country
have in our spectacular undersea
capabilities and the need to
make sure we can maintain that
competitive -- that advantage.
Nick: Thank you very much.
Mara: Thanks for having me.