The Strategic Impact of Expanding AUKUS in the Indo-Pacific

... the Indo-Pacific feel compelled to choose sides between the US and China. Lastly, the provision of nuclear propulsion technology to a non-nuclear weapon state undermines the spirit of the international non-proliferation regime. Given that US and the UK use highly enriched uranium (HEU) for nuclear propulsion in submarines, experts worry that AUKUS may lead to the proliferation of fissile material that is necessary to produce nuclear weapons. Despite growing concerns over the risks of nuclear proliferation – due to the provision on nuclear submarine-related technologies to non-nuclear weapons ...