AUKUS Nuclear Submarine Pact: A Reminder of Indonesia’s Vulnerable Underwater Defence?

The trilateral alliance between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States (AUKUS) announced in September 2021, has resulted in Australia’s plan to operate a number of nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs) in the next decade and for the Royal Navy and US Navy to start basing up to five of their SSNs (on a rotational basis) in Perth from 2027. Largely seen as a direct attempt to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific Region, several countries have expressed their concerns about the announcement, including Indonesia which soon will see an increasing number of SSNs and other foreign military equipment travelling through its archipelagic sea lanes. Hence, it is increasingly critical that Jakarta takes all the necessary steps to monitor and protect its maritime domains.