AUKUS, a trilateral security pact founded in 2021 between the U.S., U.K., and Australia, is currently planning to discuss expanding the agreement to incorporate new nations. One of the main goals of the organization is to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
The ministers of the defense alliance are planning to announce on Monday that they will be open to negotiating the second pillar of the alliance. This part of the collaboration focuses on working together to develop new technologies. The first pillar, which is about Australia’s nuclear submarine program, will not be open for negotiation.
These new talks come after U.S. lawmakers have advocated for adding Japan to the alliance to solidify the legitimacy of the security agreement. “It is possible that Japan is about to become the first additional Pillar II partner,” stated the U.S. ambassador to Tokyo, Rahm Emanuel.
