The US has ruled out adding India and Japan to the new trilateral security partnership with Australia and Britain. This Security Council aims to meet challenges of the 21st century in the strategic Indo-Pacific region.
The Security Partnership, named AUKUS was announced by US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on September 15, 2021. Under AUKUS Australia would be a fleet of nuclear-power submarines for the very first time.
Also Read: On eve of Biden-Modi summit; a primer on what Biden needs, wants, and will ask from India
On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, told media reporters, “The announcement of AUKUS last week was not meant to be an indication, and I think this is the message the President also sent to (French President Emmanuel) Macron, that there is no one else who will be involved in security in the Indo-Pacific,” as per renowned media agency PTI.
When a reporter asked, Ms Psaki about Japan and India he replied that AUKUS would become JAUKUS or JAIAUKUS.
The reporter questioned, “On Friday... you'll have the Australians there (for the Quad summit). But then you also have India and Japan. Would you envision for them a similar kind of military role that you've now defined for with the Australians?”
Ms Psaki replied, in a lighter moment, “AUKUS? What would it become? JAUKUS? or JAIAUKUS?”
Also Read: Britain needs more confidence in CoWin app, UK diplomat on vaccine certification issue
The move has angered France, a European ally of the US, which said it had been “stabbed in the back” and has publicly expressed its outrage at the AUKUS alliance. It recalled its ambassador to the US and Australia after the AUKUS security deal was announced. France also lost a lucrative contract to build conventional submarines for Australia, as per the media agency.
On it, Ms Paski at the White House said, “Of course, it's an important topic in conversations with the French, with a range of countries who have a direct interest in the region.”