AUKUS and Australia’s Nuclear-Powered Submarine: A Reinforced Strategic Culture

Australia’s decision to enter the AUKUS has caused some controversies among regional powers, especially noting heightened Indo-Pacific discourse lately. But isn’t a mere alliance against revisionist power, it much deeper dan greater significance on defence policies. This paper argues that reflect dilemmatic sub-strategic cultures within policy considerations changing strategic environment in Indo-Pacific, self-reliance and dependence. Strategically, presented Australia opportunity participate shaping under US-led initiative act as technology catalysator sector. Operationally, nuclear-powered procurement will significantly boost submarine fleet capability sea denial control mission part of larger coalition. Using culture lens studying primary secondary documents qualitative work, analysis this concludes reflected return reinforced pattern dependence age Indo-Pacific.