
Australia’s High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell said that Australia’s decision to join a significant security pact with the United States and the United Kingdom is aimed at securing the Indo-Pacific and developing capabilities that can contribute along with India and other countries to dissuade anyone that threatens peace and security in the region.
O’Farrell said that bolstering Australia’s defence capabilities through nuclear-powered submarines will form part of the country’s contribution to a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
He further said that the Australian Prime Minister, the foreign minister, and the defence minister spoke to their Indian counterparts to notify them of the decision before the announcement on the AUKUS partnership was made.
“The decision reflects a much more challenging strategic environment, an environment we share with India, where great power competition is intensifying, where territorial tensions in the South China Sea, Taiwan, and elsewhere are becoming more challenging,” he said.