Former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr has sounded warning bells on the AUKUS security pact and called for “a different approach” to rising security tensions in the region.
Carr spoke today at a panel discussion at Parliament about the AUKUS security partnership alongside former prime minister Helen Clark and former Tuvalu prime minister Enele Sopoaga.
AUKUS is a deal between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States under which Australia will acquire nuclear-powered submarines for its defence force.
Carr this morning outlined his concern that AUKUS would leave Australia “less well-defended” without a “sovereign submarine capacity”.
“We are most unlikely to get the US subs as promised — and we will have nothing to replace our aging Collins-class submarines.”
He also raised the issue of Australia not having the workforce for the submarines, nor the skills base to operate them.
‘Pure bull**** … fragrant, methane-wrapped, bull****’ — Carr
Beyond this, he said he was concerned at the risk of being locked into receiving technology solely from the United States, rather than other allies.
He called Pillar II — the technology-sharing section of AUKUS — “pure bull**** … fragrant, methane-wrapped, bull****”. He said it had been “cobbled together” to make it look like there was more to the deal than submarines.
Carr called for “a different model”, saying Australia and New Zealand were well placed to nurture, defend and promote the region diplomatically.
He described such diplomacy as, “a different model of relationships between the prevailing power and the rising power… a different approach from the one that says war’s inevitable.”
He said New Zealand’s nuclear-free status meant it was well-placed to nurture the idea in Asia Pacific diplomacy of a détente, “not a descent into war between the US and China”.
Carr said there was more to be gained from expanding cooperation, and believed Australia and New Zealand would be listened to by both sides.
The event was hosted by the Labour Party, who initiated New Zealand’s potential involvement in the deal last year.
Beware becoming a ‘signed-up’ partner to US — Clark
Former Labour Leader Helen Clark has been vocal about her opposition to the deal, saying recently it signalled an “undemocratic shift” in our foreign policy.
Speaking today, Clark called for New Zealand to be a voice for “de-escalating tensions” and finding “common cause where we can”, rather than contribute to rising tensions.
Clark stated: “AUKUS is an agreement clearly aimed at China, our major trading partner.
“China is a major power in our region. The US is a major power in our region. Our job, if we are maintaining an independent foreign policy, is to navigate both relationships and not act in ways which support polarisation and support a view that one side is driving tensions.”
The former New Zealand prime minister said she believed an allignment with the security pact would compromise New Zealand’s ability to navigate relationships independently, and would position the country as one that was a “signed-up partner” to US strategies in the region.
“And from that, in my experience, would flow expectations about what is the appropriate level of defence expenditure for New Zealand and expectations of New Zealand contributing to more and more military activities.”
“We are on a slippery path with significant economic implications, and with significant defence cost implications at a time when every other area of public spending is on the block.”
‘This is not our agreement, it is theirs’ — Sopoaga
Former Tuvalu prime minister Enele Sopoaga echoed the sentiment of different priorities, highlighting the lack of consultation with Pacific nations.
“Climate change remains the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific.”
“This is not our agreement, it is theirs.”
Labour’s foreign affairs spokesperson David Parker was asked after the panel whether the Labour government was wrong for opening the door to AUKUS in the first place
Parker responded “no”, it was proper to participate in that discussion, but that Labour was “not convinced the case was made out”.
NZ still at the ‘exploratory stage’ of relations — Govt
A spokesperson for the Government told 1News there was no shift in New Zealand’s approach from that of the previous government to “explore involvement” in AUKUS Pillar II.
“As recently stated by the Foreign Minister, involvement in AUKUS pillar two is contingent on agreement from all parties.
“New Zealand is still at the exploratory stage with partners.”
The Government was expected to be more explicit around these issues in an upcoming speech on foreign policy.
Robert Patman, professor of politics and director of international studies at the University of Otago, said one argument in favour of AUKUS was that international order at the moment was being determined by US and China. In that respect, an AUKUS arrangement could provide a “counterweight” to the influence of the two big powers.
He said the thinking also followed that New Zealand’s preference of “hedging” while maintaining relations with both sides had been squeezed to the point that New Zealand must pick a side.