Public opinion is divided; while there is support for strengthening ties with Australia, many express skepticism about the reliability of the US, particularly under Trump's leadership, raising concerns about potential disrespect towards India and advocating for a more independent foreign policy.

India

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Let's fucking go!! Albo keeps winning . After the disaster that was the Liberal govements for Australia in the Asia , Albalnese and Wong have been great at repairing things  and building important alliances.

oywiththepoodles96

What does this mean for the seemingly improving India-China relationship? It seems like the only reason in the Indians and Australians would sign on with each other would be to counter China- particularly given Australia’s defense ties with Japan.

Is it me or is this not kind of a blow to Beijing?

2Lore2Law

I’m old enough to remember when Australia signed those deals with America. Thanks Trump you traitor.

Becarefulofbias

This has real world implications for geopolitics.

firesidechatter220

Yet another war Trump has ended that the Globalist MSM won't tell you about!!!

ImTooSaxy

Isn’t this the country that sent spies into Canada and killed a citizen?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-15/canadian-police-indian-agents-criminal-activity/104472346

What a totally stable partnership to have.

HelpMeOverHere

Ooh this is riddled with unrealistic expectations, I'm afraid. 

The reality is that all key players have already moved forward with their own plans now, so there's not really any so-called partners left to find. 

Sweden is a no-go. They are too similar to France in the respect that their military needs are very niche and particular to just themself, and not really anyone else. So, like France, they do tend to need to go solo on such projects unless somebody is happy to bankroll it - but it will still be to their specification and needs.

GCAP is out of the question. Neither Japan nor UK have put in any replacement orders because they expect to have this jet in service and on schedule. They've also just finished spending years getting all the back end stuff harmonised - from legislation changes and so on - and they're not about to redo it all over again at this late stage.

But really this is just France and Germany playing a staring contest with one another and seeing who blinks first. France doesn't have the money to go solo on a project like this, and Germany doesn't have the industry skills to be able to design and build going solo on a project like this.   
Spain meanwhile is just some hostage watching a car crash in slow motion while sat in the back seat lol.

EpicTutorialTips

"Anyone who believes that Germany alone is not capable of building a fighter jet of the future is sorely mistaken."

He says, and moments later proposes a series of partners with whom Germany would work because it cannot build a fighter jet alone. 

I dunno, I understand both sides. France/Dassault was promised leadership on the fighter jet component of FCAS, and in return gave over leadership of every other segment of the FCAS program. Now the Germans want equal leadership in that, while not offering (at least not publically) to let go of leadership in other segments - not that I think Dassault would be much interested anyway. On the other hand, Germany fears that if it lets go of any leadership role on the fighter jet component, they would be at the whims of a French company in what gets built into the jet, and by whom. While all the other components of FCAS, on which german companies have leadership, are undeniably important, the fighter jet is obviously the most visible, symbolically important and technologically complex part of the project.

Kreol1q1q

&gt; According to the Ministry of Defense, a solution is to be found by the end of the year on how to proceed with the French-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS). At issue is the demand by Dassault CEO Eric Trappier to retain sole decision-making power over the new fighter jet in the FCAS project. Otherwise, France could develop an aircraft on its own, the manager threatened.

&gt; For Volker Mayer-Lay, member of the Bundestag's Defense Committee and CDU/CSU parliamentary group spokesman for the German Air Force, the French position is no longer acceptable after years of quarrels. “Anyone who acts like this is not looking for partnership – they are demanding subordination,” the politician wrote in a statement published today, referring to Trappier's position.

&gt; At some point, it has to end. “Better an end with horror than horror without end. Germany must have the courage to draw clear conclusions: either cooperation on equal terms or new partners who also live up to the word ‘cooperation’,” demands the CDU politician.

&gt; “FCAS must die so that the sixth-generation fighter jet can fly,” says Meyer-Lay. German industry does not need a custodian, and there is no reason to bow to dictates. “Anyone who believes that Germany alone is not capable of building a fighter jet of the future is sorely mistaken.” Mayer-Lay believes that the local industry is in an excellent position. He counts Airbus, MTU, Diehl, Indra Avitech, Hensoldt, and the strong research landscape in artificial intelligence, sensor technology, and cybersecurity among the important players. “Germany can keep up technologically – and it has alternatives.”

&gt; In this context, Mayer-Lay refers to Italy and Japan, which, according to him, are already working on a sixth-generation fighter jet. Sweden is keeping its options open with Saab. “These countries show that genuine cooperation is possible without one partner acting as a custodian.”

&gt; The real problem with FCAS is not that it could fail – the problem is the crippling loss of time. While Dassault insists on French dominance, valuable years are passing by. “For the German Air Force, this means that the next generation of fighter jets is becoming a distant prospect. If Europe does not finally take action, the lead of other – not so friendly – nations will become unassailable,” warns the CDU politician.

&gt; The real problem with FCAS is not that it could fail – the problem is the crippling loss of time. While Dassault insists on French dominance, valuable years are passing by. “For the German Air Force, this means that the next generation of fighter jets is becoming a distant prospect. If Europe does not finally take action, the lead of other – not so friendly – nations will become unassailable,” warns the CDU politician with special expertise.

&gt; Among experts, Sweden and the three-way consortium of the UK, Japan, and Italy are considered possible partners for Germany and Spain in the development of a combat aircraft should FCAS with France be terminated. However, joining an existing project is likely to be difficult, particularly with regard to the distribution of industrial shares, which would have to be redesigned.

&gt; Sweden, on the other hand, has not yet decided how to replace the Gripen fighter jet and whether to develop its own aircraft. However, the Gripen is expected to remain in service for a similar length of time to the Eurofighter, which would be positive in terms of joint planning. The Scandinavians have proven that a country with less than ten million inhabitants can develop a world-class jet. However, they had to rely on US technology for the engine. Germany could possibly contribute to a cooperation here, as it has engine expertise. Insiders even fear that this could be lost if FCAS continues, because the French side apparently wants to adapt the specifications for the aircraft in such a way that the national engine is awarded the contract.

&gt; Another factor in Sweden's favor could be that the respective national champions, Airbus Defense and Space and Saab, have already held talks on the joint development of a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). Such a CCA would be an essential element of an FCAS.

&gt; For now, however, it remains to be seen whether and how Paris and Berlin will resolve their differences. The fact that the new French government has not yet been formed and the previous defense minister is no longer in office is unlikely to be helpful for the negotiations.

ver_million

Greedy_End3168

ForTheGloryOfAmn

The key question here is: the engine.
Can a German company make it?

Any-Original-6113

How long are Germany and France going to squabble over this? Don't they need to get started if they're going to have a prototype in 2027?

Littlepage3130

In any case, the Germans have fought 2 wars against them, we are supposedly friends, but it is another war that is being fought.

It’s good that we are being proactive in moving away from an unreliable “ally.”

Sporty_Nerd_64

Good. We need to back away slowly from the Orange Looney and not get dragged into whatever capricious crap he comes up with.

RingEducational5039

If america decides to go full fuckhead in Iran we needed a new deal so we don't get sucked into it.

InsertUsernameInArse

Good but the Europeans are using their manufacturing capacity for domestic rearmament and Ukraine.


There is no getting around the fact Australia needs to have the capacity to manufacture what we need for ADF. The good side of being on an island is that it's easier to defend, the bad side is that it's easier to beseige.

Jealous-Hedgehog-734

One thing that annoys me about Australia is that we as a nation act like a young adult. Running to mum and dad whenever we had a problem, unfortunately mum retired and doesn't have the resources although still good for some things. Dads got full on dementia and isn't recognizing friends/family from conman and so is dangerously self destructive. I hope we as a nation finally grow up and realise we are on our own really and need to think for ourselves and build new relationships especially with our siblings.

yipape

forhekset666

First Eurovision, now this. Schengen next?

radditour

When the Toddler-in-Chief takes his toys home and quits, at least we can make these kind of deals. Could you imagine the oxygen Trump sucks out of any room?

Chaotic-Goofball

“…current and future cooperation including in areas such as defence industry,”

Neat, can we get in on the German or Italian cruiser programs ?

Diligent-Ducc

&gt; will provide a framework for current and future cooperation

So, slightly more than nothing.

Wiggly-Pig

We should've done this decades ago and while were at it maybe we can also pursuit a more independent foreign policy

Drone212

[deleted]

“I very much welcome the EU's offer for a Security and Defence Partnership and Australia will warmly take it up and commence work immediately.

“This will open the door to joint defence procurement opportunities and will benefit both our industries and our security.

“At a time of global uncertainty, it is our collective responsibility to work together to uphold peace, security and economic prosperity.

“That is what I will continue to do every day and that has been a key take out of our work here at the G7 today.”

thebladex666

Maybe someone could salvage the French sub debacle as we clearly cannot trust the *current* US admin. This would also remove ***ScuMo*** from his middleman *'financially exploitive' position!* They should actively block him from having anything to do with the whole process, as a sign of good faith to the French, and let that festering pile of shit, ScuMo, eat shit.

CelebrationFit8548

It's a shame we dropped the French deal. I was actually pro-AUKUS at the time but hindsight proved me dead wrong. The French program wasn't going well at all, and the French weren't treating us brilliantly, but we should have known that Trump or his ilk were going to get back in at some point and we'd end up with dick in the end. Attack-class would have been better than nothing, and it would have been a good step in relationship building with Europe.

Dappington

No-Aardvark7366

Great they’ll send some ammo when China invades.  How about we get some nukes so nobody messes with us.  It’s the only smart move.

Artforartsake99

India and Australia have strengthened their defense partnership through key agreements focused on maritime security and regional stability.

India-Australia Defense Cooperation

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