Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0

[BSKS]

Conroy's revelation on SRF-West ending in 2032 relates to the recent decision by the US to reintroduce tactical nuclear weapons (SLCM-N) into their Virginia's in 2032. Hosting nuclear armed Virginia's containing tactical nuclear weapons would put us in contravention of the Treaty of Rarotonga which effectively bans the basing of nuclear weapons in signature countries. The treaty is a big deal especially in the Pacific.

A good discussion of the wide ranging impacts of the US decision is below.

Australia will soon host a US SSN force. We need to discuss war planning | The Strategist

From 2027, Australia will host under the AUKUS agreement a US submarine force at HMAS Stirling, near Perth. It will be known as Submarine Rotational Force–West (SRF–W) and will consist of up to four US ...

www.aspistrategist.org.au

 

[SammyC]

Conroy accused of handing AUKUS ‘eviction notice’ to US submarines

weirdly Sen Conroy seems to have walked back some of his comments on the 730 report today, as per the linked article.

Here he says that the Americans will have some form of submarine presence in FBW indefinitely, and that the agreement could easily be renewed or expanded.

Conroy is usually very tight on his public communications, and rarely steps offline.

This whole thing seems an odd time to raise the issue. Why raise it in the first place as there did not seem to be a need to wake this sleeping dog.

Then extra unusual to soften what he said within 24 hours.

 

[spoz]

It's arguable. The SPNFA is defined in the treaty as ending at the eastern boundary of the territorial sea of Australia. It also specifically allows each country whether to allow visits by nuclear armed ships. It does not define "visits".