LONDON: Britain, the United States and Australia on Tuesday agreed to cooperate on hypersonic weapons and electronic warfare capabilities, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office said, following a call between leaders of the new defence alliance.

The new Aukus defence alliance, launched in September last year, prompted Australia to cancel a contract for a conventional French submarine in favour of a nuclear submarine program supported by the United States and Britain, damaging relations with French President Emmanuel Macron.

In a joint statement, AUKUS leaders Johnson, US President Joe Biden and Australian PM Scott Morrison said they were pleased with the progress of the programme for conventionally armed, nuclear powered submarines for Australia, and the allies would co-operate in other areas too.

“We also committed today to commence new trilateral cooperation on hypersonics and counter-hypersonics, and electronic warfare capabilities,” the statement said.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2022