U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Ronald Gutridge
Paul Dibb, RCD/The Strategist: Should Australia Develop Its Own Nuclear Deterrent?
Australia’s deteriorating strategic outlook raises the question under what conditions should we develop a nuclear weapon of our own? This option was seriously considered by Australian governments in the 1960s, and the Department of Defence kept the technological lead time for an Australian nuclear weapon under review until the early 1980s. That was at the height of the Cold War and, as one of America’s closest allies, we faced a real risk of Soviet nuclear attack.
We face no such risk these days. Nevertheless, we now have the prospect—for the first time since World War II—of a potential major-power adversary threatening us with high-intensity military conflict in our neighbourhood. This is not to identify China as an inevitable adversary, but prudent defence planning needs to accept that Beijing is developing the conventional military capabilities to threaten us seriously—were its intentions to change. Military developments in our region of primary strategic concern now require a change to our assessments about intelligence warning time.
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WNU Editor: If the international situation should warrant Australia to develop and build a nuclear deterrent .... that will tell me that we are living in a very dangerous world.
11 comments:
By the time the aussies build a nuclear arsenal because of the situation being that bad whatever that situation is would already have spiralled into all out war.
I disagree. It's prudent for them to think ahead. The motivation to get a nuclear weapon now is simply China. Australia realizes the threat they are under and nuclear weapons not only help to deter China from meddling in their waters (another 9 dash claim may pop up), and on top if war were to break out between China and the "West" (including many other Asian nations that are not on China's side), and if Australia chose to get involved or stay neutral, the nukes would help either way (as China, under threat, may look for resources, ports, etc or would consider nuking Australia to pre-empt them from helping the West)... that's the kinda scenarios these guys play through their mind
I’m Aussie and the chances of us ever developing a nuclear weapon are absolutely zero. We can’t even get our leftie leaning government to procure badly needed nuclear subs. Instead, we spend $50B building inferior diesel versions of the French barracuda class.
Stop belittling your own people, it's not smart nor attractive. Australians in my book are tough and have a good economy and that counts for something.
Also: THIS is a knife^^
"inferior diesel versions of the French barracuda class." - Anon 625
Quantity has a quality all its own.
If these are or can be real good diesels it might be better to have 2, 3 or 5 diesels to 1 nuke in shallow waters.
Risking nuke subs in the archipelago does not seem wise. A munitions does not care whether the target is nuke or diesel.
For the Indian Ocean, Antarctic or Pacific Ocean you want nukes. You want to go and hunt the PLA stuff.
Everything you expressed about the Leftie governments of Australia is true.
Diesels,are not inferior for our contingency. Our aging Collins class slipped on out of the u.s carriers escorts and "sunk" her and 2 capital ships in war games off Hawaii years ago.
They didn't hear us coming.
Nuclear in Australia is as popular as herpes at a swingers party. Not gonna happen.
Of course Australia should develop a nuclear deterrent. This is a no brainer. Now will They? This is another question.
Were I among US leadership I would insist that Australia develop a nuclear deterrent as a condition of continued US support. Very respectfully editor we are,living in a VERY DANGEROUS world. It's time to recognize reality. Australia should have developed a nuclear deterrent long, long ago.
"Nuclear in Australia is as popular as herpes at a swingers party. Not gonna happen."
50% of the population has herpes.
That swinger lifestyle choice must be smashing.
It is too bad that life on earth is made possible by its nuclear pile in the center.
No as a u.s leader you would provide Australia with your nuclear umbrella in gratitude for being first on board with every conflict you have fought since ww2.
I would not say he is belittling his own people His government perhaps. Australian politicians that seems more concerned with same sex marriage and climate change and kissing UN butt. Shit they can't even manage to build dams on one of the driest continents on earth. Anything nuclear is way out of the question And incidentally knives in public spaces was banned years ago. Australia has changed a lot in the last 10 years
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