Canada in Talks to Join Expanded AUKUS Security Pact
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Canada in Talks About Joining Expanded AUKUS, Defence Chief Blair Says
TOKYO (Reuters) - Canada is in discussions about joining an expanded AUKUS deal between the U.S., Britain, and Australia formed to counter China's growing military influence in the Asia Pacific region, Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair said. Canada has said it wants to join a second pillar of AUKUS that will collaborate on new military technologies, including artificial intelligence and quantum computing, but has not so far revealed any details of those talks. "There have been important discussions about processes and platforms on a project-specific basis on where other nations, including Japan and ourselves, might participate," Blair said in an interview in Tokyo where he met his Japanese counterpart Minoru Kihara. "I would respectfully wait until they've come to their determination, but I'm very optimistic," he said. Blair said he and Kihara discussed AUKUS, which is already considering working with Japan. The initial phase of AUKUS involves the three founding members working on nuclear submarine technology for Australia. Blair, who was on his second trip to Japan as defence minister, arrived in Tokyo from South Korea, which is also in talks about a role in AUKUS. Canada is looking for a bigger security role in Asia and has made forging deeper ties with Japan and South Korea a priority. As its defence commitments expand at home and overseas the country is expanding military spending. "Next year, my defence budget will rise by 27% over this year, and, frankly, in the next three or four years, our defence spending will triple," Blair said. He and Kihara also discussed Chinese incursions into Japanese territory that last month prompted Tokyo to lodge protests with Beijing. Concerns about that Chinese military activity may be discussed at a meeting of the Group of Seven defence ministers in Italy next month, Blair said. "It's an important opportunity for us to have a conversation among the G7 partners about some of the activities that are deeply concerning to Japan and to Canada and to the United States and others."
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Canada in talks about joining expanded AUKUS, defence chief Blair says
TOKYO (Reuters) - Canada is in discussions about joining an expanded AUKUS deal between the U.S., Britain, and Australia formed to counter China's growing military influence in the Asia Pacific region, Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair said. Canada has said it wants to join a second pillar of AUKUS that will collaborate on new military technologies, including artificial intelligence and quantum computing, but has not so far revealed any details of those talks. "There have been important discussions about processes and platforms on a project-specific basis on where other nations, including Japan and ourselves, might participate," Blair said in an interview in Tokyo where he met his Japanese counterpart Minoru Kihara. "I would respectfully wait until they've come to their determination, but I'm very optimistic," he said. Blair said he and Kihara discussed AUKUS, which is already considering working with Japan. The initial phase of AUKUS involves the three founding members working on nuclear submarine technology for Australia. Blair, who was on his second trip to Japan as defence minister, arrived in Tokyo from South Korea, which is also in talks about a role in AUKUS. Canada is looking for a bigger security role in Asia and has made forging deeper ties with Japan and South Korea a priority. As its defence commitments expand at home and overseas the country is expanding military spending. "Next year, my defence budget will rise by 27% over this year, and, frankly, in the next three or four years, our defence spending will triple," Blair said. He and Kihara also discussed Chinese incursions into Japanese territory that last month prompted Tokyo to lodge protests with Beijing. Concerns about that Chinese military activity may be discussed at a meeting of the Group of Seven defence ministers in Italy next month, Blair said. "It's an important opportunity for us to have a conversation among the G7 partners about some of the activities that are deeply concerning to Japan and to Canada and to the United States and others."
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Canada's Defence Minister Bill Blair confirms discussions about joining an expanded version of the AUKUS security pact, potentially strengthening Western alliances in the Indo-Pacific region.
Canada Explores AUKUS Membership
In a significant development for global security alliances, Canada has confirmed its involvement in discussions about potentially joining an expanded version of the AUKUS security pact. Defence Minister Bill Blair revealed this information during his visit to Washington, signaling a possible shift in Canada's strategic positioning in the Indo-Pacific region
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.Understanding AUKUS
AUKUS, initially formed in 2021, is a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The pact's primary focus has been on equipping Australia with nuclear-powered submarines to enhance its naval capabilities in the face of growing tensions with China in the Indo-Pacific
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.Potential Expansion and Canada's Interest
Recent discussions have centered around expanding AUKUS beyond its original scope. This expansion, often referred to as "pillar two," aims to develop advanced technologies such as quantum computing, undersea capabilities, and artificial intelligence. It is this broader technological collaboration that has piqued Canada's interest
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.Blair's Statement and Implications
Minister Blair emphasized that while Canada is not currently part of AUKUS, it is actively engaged in conversations about joining the expanded version. He stated, "We're not part of AUKUS right now, but we are having conversations with our allies about how we can participate more fully"
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. This statement underscores Canada's interest in strengthening its role in Indo-Pacific security arrangements and its commitment to technological advancement in defense.Related Stories
Potential Benefits and Challenges
Joining an expanded AUKUS could offer Canada several advantages, including access to cutting-edge military technologies and stronger ties with key allies. However, it may also strain relations with China, which has previously expressed strong opposition to the AUKUS pact, viewing it as a threat to regional stability
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.Global Reactions and Future Prospects
The news of Canada's potential involvement has drawn attention from international observers. While some see it as a natural extension of existing alliances, others worry about the implications for global power dynamics. As discussions progress, the international community will be watching closely to see how this potential expansion of AUKUS might reshape security arrangements in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond
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