The UK has joined forces with the US and Australia in a landmark nuclear submarine agreement to bolster security in the Indo-Pacific. However, the project’s financial sustainability is debated among experts and officials, with critical views emerging on both sides of the Atlantic. Concurrently, UK officials have issued strong condemnations of Russian President Vladimir Putin, drawing parallels with Stalin and criticising the recent Russian election’s legitimacy amidst calls for a unified Western response.
The United Kingdom, alongside the United States and Australia, has entered into a significant £286 billion nuclear submarine deal as part of the AUKUS trilateral agreement. This initiative aims to enhance stability in the Indo-Pacific region by developing a new class of nuclear-powered submarines. Despite the strategic benefits, the financial viability of the AUKUS agreement is currently under scrutiny. Former Royal Navy chief, Lord West of Spithead, has expressed concerns over the enormous costs and complexity of constructing modern nuclear submarines. Doubts have also emerged within the American establishment and among Australian opposition and academics concerning the affordability of the project.
In a separate context, UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has sharply criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, comparing him to a “modern-day Stalin” following Putin’s recent landslide election victory, where he garnered nearly 88% of the vote. Shapps pointed out the absence of genuine electoral competition and the suppression of dissent in Russia, highlighting the incarceration and death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Furthermore, Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron and other UK officials have condemned the election’s integrity and Russia’s actions, particularly the invasion of parts of Ukraine, while emphasizing the need for a collective Western response to counter Putin’s authoritarian regime.
These statements were made amid protests by Russian nationals in the UK, demonstrating against Putin’s rule. The protests, organized by the Russian Democratic Society, took place outside the Russian embassy in London, reflecting opposition to Putin’s governance among the Russian diaspora.
These developments underscore the UK’s engagement in significant international security and geopolitical issues, ranging from its role in the Indo-Pacific security landscape through the AUKUS agreement to its stance on Russia’s domestic and foreign policies.
