Nuclear-powered submarine deal under AUKUS has massive flaws: former Australian PM

NEW YORK -- The newly-announced deal between the United States, Britain and Australia on nuclear-powered submarines has massive flaws, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Monday.

Speaking at a webinar organized by the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, Rudd said the Australian government's unilateral repeal of the submarine contract with France and switch to nuclear-powered submarines took place like "a bolt from the blue".

This is not the way to treat the French partner, friend and ally, said Rudd, who is now president and CEO of non-profit organization Asia Society.

To move from conventional power submarines to nuclear-powered ones citing technical reasons, "why can't the French be invited to tender? Because they also run nuclear submarines," Rudd said.

The fleet of nuclear-powered submarines to be built for Australia could effectively become a subset of the US Navy as Australia doesn't have a civil nuclear industry, Rudd said.

Australia, Britain and the United States recently announced a new security partnership known as AUKUS, under which the first initiative is the delivery of a nuclear-powered submarine fleet to Australia by the other two.

Shortly after the new deal was unveiled, Australia announced it would scrap the deal with France signed in 2016 to purchase 12 conventional diesel-electric submarines.

In protest of the new deal, France recalled its ambassadors to the United States and Australia.

The new deal also provoked widespread concern across the world, with many experts and observers lamenting the deal's long shadow over regional security in the Asia-Pacific and on global non-proliferation endeavor.