The Secretary of State of the United States, Antony Blinken, assured that New Zealand, a nation with pacifist convictions, has the doors open to join the AUKUS security pact, a military cooperation agreement that the Americans want to have with the main Pacific nations. South in the face of the increased military presence of China, Russia and North Korea in the region.
One of the first steps taken by the AUKUS signatories was for the Australian government to purchase three nuclear-powered submarines from the United States. The Canberra authorities announced that the island has no intention of manipulating and possessing nuclear weapons on its territory. Even so, China and Russia have accused the United States of proliferating the use of atomic weapons in the region.
Faced with this possibility of possessing weapons of nuclear destruction, the New Zealanders were far from those intentions with the AUKUS pact. “New Zealand is unwilling to compromise or change our nuclear weapons free positionNew Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said.
Blinken, who also met Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, recalled that New Zealand is a deeply trusted partner with whom they work on security in the region. Despite the intention of the United States to add the New Zealanders to the pact, they would be willing to join the part referring to the exchange of information and technology.
China considers that the purchase of these submarines is a “blatant act” that creates serious risks of nuclear proliferation.Crédito: Adam K. Thomas | Getty Images
AUKUS and nuclear weapons
Regarding the use of nuclear weapons in the region, and the constant accusations by China and Russia of the AUKUS signatory countries, the Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, stated in March that Australia is not acquiring a strategic arsenal of nuclear cargo at any time. therefore the statements of the representatives of Beijing are not correct.
The representative of Australian diplomacy clarified that at no time was the intention of this purchase to increase tensions in the region or cause a direct confrontation. The Australian Prime Minister even stated that he does not seek confrontation with China or another nation in the region, after the acquisition of three nuclear-powered submarines that he has agreed to acquire under the AUKUS security pact with the United States and the United Kingdom.
For his part, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the United States and its allies of having his plans to build nuclear structures in Asia and the Pacific. Lavrov noted that the Americans intend to carry out the project of deployment of nuclear infrastructure in non-nuclear countries.
The Russian foreign minister specifically pointed to the AUKUS security pact, a defense coalition made up of Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, by which Australia will have a fleet of nuclear submarines from 2030, although without atomic weapons.
With information from EFE
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2023-07-27 15:31:03
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