Australia's Nuclear-Free Status: Subject to US Convenience
Defence officials have confirmed to the Senate that US Virginia-class submarines, arriving under the AUKUS agreement, could carry nuclear weapons into Australian ports, and Australia wouldn't even know. This 'shocking' revelation ( sarcasm font here ) conveniently contradicts earlier pledges from Penny Wong that only conventionally armed subs would visit. It seems an independent foreign policy is
less about 'independence' and more about 'policy dictated by Washington.' One might recall similar 'misunderstandings' regarding US military presence in other allied nations, where previous agreements magically evaporate when US strategic needs dictate. Who needs transparent compliance when you have an alliance? How many 'bans' can one country ignore before the word loses all meaning for its own
government?