Antony Blinken's Top Deputy Dismisses Nuclear Arms Race Fears Amid Pact With Australia, UK

Antony Blinken‘s top deputy and the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security has dismissed concerns that the AUKUS pact, a trilateral defense and security agreement, would incite a nuclear arms race in the Indo-Pacific region.

What Happened: Ambassador Bonnie Denise Jenkins refuted these claims on Tuesday, stating that the AUKUS pact, a security agreement between Australia, the U.K., and the U.S., aims to enhance stability in the region, CNBC reported on Monday.

"It's very important that countries understand that this is not to create a race — to create any kind of arms' races. Nuclear-powered submarines are allowed under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and Australia is not going to become a nuclear weapons state," Jenkins Said,

The pact, established in 2021, was created to address concerns about China’s expanding military power and influence, including Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered attack submarines. Jenkins emphasized that nuclear-powered submarines are permitted under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and that Australia will not become a nuclear weapons state.

See Also: Marjorie Taylor Greene Insists ‘Motion To Vacate’ Mike Johnson’s Speakership Is Inevitable: ‘Do The Right Thing To Resign And Allow Us To Move Forward’

Despite these assurances, China has reiterated its concerns about the AUKUS pact, accusing Western powers of provoking division and risking nuclear proliferation in the South Pacific.

Why It Matters: This development comes amid escalating global tensions, with Russia warning that Western support for Ukraine could lead to a confrontation between the world's leading nuclear powers.

Furthermore, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to caution China about its assistance to Russia's military during his upcoming visit to China.

This comes after the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations called out Russia and China for their support for North Korea.

Read Next: Biden Vs. Trump Matchup Shows Tight Race But New Poll Identifies Two Issues That Could Resolve The Deadlock

Image by IAEA Imagebank via Shutterstock