Russian diplomat warns AUKUS pact risks destabilizing Asia-Pacific

A senior Russian diplomat has warned that the AUKUS security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States risks undermining stability in the Asia-Pacific region, according to Russian state news agency TASS.

Andrey Belousov, identified by TASS as a Russian foreign ministry official, said the trilateral partnership's activities point to "fairly clear prospects of nuclear weapons emerging in Australia."

Belousov said this trajectory "creates conditions for Canberra's involvement in schemes and practices of joint nuclear missions similar to those of NATO," according to the TASS report.

The AUKUS pact, announced in 2021, centers on cooperation to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines and to advance joint work on advanced military technologies including hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence and cyber capabilities.

TASS did not provide further details in the excerpt regarding the specific evidence or context behind Belousov's remarks, nor did it indicate whether Australian, British or American officials had responded to the comments.

Russia has repeatedly criticized AUKUS since its inception, framing the pact as a destabilizing force in the region and raising concerns about nuclear non-proliferation implications tied to the submarine program.