Why Australia Shouldn’t Worry About the UK and AUKUS

In an opinion piece for the Australian Financial Review, Professor Alessio Patalano, a Naval Expert and Professor in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, addresses concerns about Britain’s ongoing defence debate and its implications for AUKUS.

Patalano explains that balancing immediate defence demands with long-term investments is a key challenge for the team leading the UK’s defence review. He argues that AUKUS capabilities are theatre-agnostic, offering strategic advantages in the maritime domain, which is crucial for modern multi-domain operations. These capabilities also position the UK to make a unique contribution to European security as Russia’s maritime threat extends to NATO’s frontlines. AUKUS, Patalano notes, serves as an organising principle that drives innovation in future warfare technologies and acts as a model for trusted collaborations.

“Taken together, AUKUS, and the capabilities pursued across Pillar I and II, are about the advantages in deterrence and investment of a maritime-leaning strategy for Britain. In this respect, AUKUS – from a UK perspective – is a NATO first choice.”

Patalano is a key contributor to the Security & Defence PLuS mission, leading S&D+ research efforts at King’s College London.

Access the Article: This is why we don’t need to worry about the Brits and AUKUS