- South Korea plans to share advanced military technologies with the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia under the AUKUS partnership.
- The possibility of such cooperation was discussed during meetings between the defense and foreign ministers of South Korea and Australia in Melbourne.
- In 2021, the United States and the United Kingdom agreed to supply submarines powered by American nuclear technology to Australia under the AUKUS agreement.
South Korea plans to share advanced military technologies with the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia under the so-called AUKUS partnership, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said.
Shin said the possibility was discussed during two days of meetings between South Korea and Australian defense and foreign ministers that concluded Wednesday in the Australian city of Melbourne.
The United States and the United Kingdom agreed in 2021 to provide Australia with a fleet of submarines powered by American nuclear technology under the AUKUS agreement to counter a growing military presence by China. AUKUS is an acronym for Australia, United Kingdom and United States.
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Countries could engage in cooperation on a wider range of security technologies, including artificial intelligence, electronic warfare and hypersonic systems, under what is known as Pillar 2 of AUKUS.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, left, alongside South Korean National Defense Minister Shin Won-sik during a meeting of South Korean foreign and defense ministers 'Australia and South Korea in Melbourne, Australia on May 1, 2024. (Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/Pool Photo via AP)
Shin welcomed South Korea's invitation of the three AUKUS partners.
“We are pleased that AUKUS members regard Korea as a partner of the second pillar of AUKUS and that Korea's defense scientific and technological capabilities will contribute to the peace and stability of the development of the second pillar of AUKUS and regional peace,” Shin said through a translator.
Japan is also moving towards formal negotiations to be part of the development and technological sharing of the second pillar of AUKUS.
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Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles welcomed South Korean efforts to strengthen its relationship with Japan, which, along with Australia, the United States and India, forms a security dialogue known as Quad name.
“We see this as a very, very positive step forward in the strategic landscape of the region and represents a huge opportunity for Australia to engage with both Korea and Japan,” Marles told reporters.
“Korea and Australia work together to maintain the rules-based order in our region and, indeed, the world,” Marles added.