Even as the US and Australia are both a part of the Quad alliance, the newly formed AUKUS alliance goes multiple steps ahead. While the Quad’s primary objective is maritime security, combating the Covid-19 crisis, especially vis-à-vis vaccine diplomacy, addressing the risks of climate change, creating an ecosystem for investment in the region and boosting technological innovation, the AUKUS, at least as of now, looks more clearly outlined with sharing of cyber capabilities, AI, quantum, and other undersea technologies.

Under AUKUS, the three countries will enhance the development of joint capabilities and technology sharing, foster deeper integration of security and defence-related science, technology, industrial bases, and supply chains. During the launch of AUKUS, the countries did not mention China, but spoke about the growing challenges in the Indo-Pacific.

Though India was taken by surprise by the AUKUS announcement, some experts believe that the AUKUS would not undermine QUAD. Harsh Pant says, “The AUKUS has not got anything to do with India. It’s a trilateral engagement between the countries that have traditionally been very close. The US, UK and Australia have been very close partners throughout history. The fact that US is willing to share a sensitive technology like the nuclear power submarine with Australia, reflects an underlined unease with Washington about the changing Indo-Pacific and the inability of its closest allies like Australia to stand up to China on their own. Australia clearly is no match to Chinese capabilities. Australia is facing its own China problem. They need critical technologies like these from their partners.”