India, Japan ruled out of joining AUKUS: White House

Asian countries like Japan and India have been ruled out by the United States for joining an alliance designed for enhancing security in the Indo-Pacific region, the White House said Wednesday.

Earlier this month, United States President Joe Biden announced a trilateral security alliance with United Kingdom and Australia, which has been tagged as AUKUS.

White House Press Secretary said in a statement, “The announcement of AUKUS last week was not meant to be an indication, and I think this is the message the President also sent to (French President Emmanuel) Macron, that there is no one else who will be involved in security in the Indo-Pacific”, PTI reported.

French authorities, including Macron, had denounced being left out of the security partnership saying that the countries faced common challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

“Of course, it’s an important topic in conversations with the French, with a range of countries who have a direct interest in the region,” she said.

Psaki was responding to a question if countries like India and Japan whose leaders would be in town this week for the Quad Summit would be made part of the security alliance.

The Quad comprises India, the US, Japan and Australia. The US is hosting the in-person Quad summit in Washington on September 24.

“On Friday… you’ll have the Australians there (for the Quad summit). But then you also have India and Japan. Would you envision for them a similar kind of military role that you’ve now defined for with the Australians?” a journalist asked.

“AUKUS? What would it become? JAUKUS? JAIAUKUS?” Psaki said in lighter moments before giving answer to the question, PTI reported.

The new alliance paves the way for the United States and United Kingdom to initiate a weapons sharing programme with Australia, which would allow the island nation to receive nuclear-powered submarines.

The alliance, which is being treated as a balancing power for China, was denounced by the Asian country. China said that such an alliance will compromise the international efforts made for non-proliferation and will undermine regional stability.