Negotiations for AUKUS partnership started around 18 months ago

Sky News Washington Correspondent Annelise Nielsen says negotiations around the new AUKUS partnership started around 18 months ago, “not too long after Scott Morrison came into office”.

On Thursday it was announced a trilateral security partnership was formed with Australia, The United States, and the United Kingdom, which will see Australia harness new nuclear-powered submarines.

“But what we’ve been told is it was more of an operational level between the two countries, between defence officials,” Ms Nielsen told Sky News host Andrew Bolt.

“One thing Australia is in lockstep with US on, this is probably the strongest part of our alliance here that we can agree on, China being a threat in the region, and this is a huge investment on that front.

“It is quite significant; the US have said they haven’t shared any nuclear propulsion technology with any countries since the UK in 1958 and that was a one-off as well.”

[juliek]

Was that when Biden could still remember our Prime Minister's name??? Frightening

[AlanTimms]

Morrison negotiates NOTHING. He gets told what to buy, who from and how much.

[alexpalmer]

You mean while Trump was the President.
Was it his idea?

[falseprofitu]

Biden would take the credit from Trump

[brentsummers]

Did Biden forget 'Australia' so he said 'down under'? It's 'that place over the river' referring to the Pentagon type of brain fade.

[shadesofgraygraytheorigina]

Of course they started 18mths ago🤔Ring any bells folks?😂

[IANROD]

Is that the fella from down under? How you doing pal?

[zulouis]

MG has gotten plenty of power to challenge China why they want to arm Australia with nuclear power to become frontier challenger and make the best benefit for MG I can’t see where is Australia benefits

[jribeye]

So why did they rush to a top secret meeting last night???

[jennmerkabah]

'That guy from where and what's his name?' 🤣

[michaeldamato]

You've got the country falling apart and the big news is a submarine fantastic, paint it yellow and let's take some acid and trip away.

[keeperofwickets]

Love it when journalists use a nonsense word (agreeance) when an entirely useful one (agreement, or concurrence) would do. Nicely done.

[robinstuyvesant]

Why didn't they use the acronym USUKA? It rolls off the

[TheHappyCatsTail]

Imagine thinking ramping up preparations for a fucking war with a superpower is a good thing?

[hopemitchell]

Coincidence 18 🤣 months 🤣 ago... funny THAT!

[Aangel]

Why are we building submarines when our own people need this money for better infrastructure, homeless, hospitals, schools, roads??

[nhmooytis]

Sorry but the idea of anyone taking Aussie seriously as a military power just cracks me up.

[myday]

So it's a Trump thing. I was thinking it was too logical for Biden.

[BridiesMammaG]

Did she actually say " lockstep"?

[letmeexplain]

So the Australian tax payers will have to pay for all this artillery and technology, the people here are already financially crippled.