There is no one else who will be involved in security in the Indo-Pacific, Jen Psaki said (File)
Washington:
The United States has ruled out adding India or Japan to the recently formed security partnership with Australia and the United Kingdom in the Indo-Pacific.
On 15 September, US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the tripartite security alliance AUKUS, under which Australia would get a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.
“The AUKUS announcement last week was not meant to be a signal, and I think the message the President sent to (French President Emmanuel) Macron as well, that there is no one else who will be involved in security in the India-Pacific,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at her daily news conference on Wednesday.
France criticized its boycott from the coalition, saying it showed a lack of coherence at a time when the Indo-Pacific region faces common challenges.
“Of course, this is an important topic in negotiations with France, with many countries having a direct interest in this area,” she said.
Jen Psaki was responding to a question whether countries like India and Japan whose leaders will be in the city for the Quad summit this week would be made part of the security alliance.
The quad includes India, the US, Japan and Australia. The US is hosting the in-person Quad Summit in Washington on September 24.
“On Friday … you will have Australians there (for the Quad summit). But then you will also have India and Japan. Would you imagine the same kind of military role for them that you have now defined with Australians? Is. ?” A journalist asked.
“AUKUS? What will it become? JAUKUS? JAIAUKUS?” Jen Psaki said in light-hearted moments before answering the question.
The trilateral security alliance, seen as an effort to counter China in the Indo-Pacific region, will allow the US and UK to provide technology to Australia to develop nuclear-powered submarines for the first time.
China has sharply criticized the trilateral alliance, saying such a grouping has no future and would seriously undermine regional stability, fuel an arms race and hurt international non-proliferation efforts.
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