Indonesia, Malaysia ‘worried, concerned’ over Aukus nuclear submarine plan

Foreign ministers Retno Marsudi and Saifuddin Abdullah said they feared Australia’s new security pact may lead to an arms race in Southeast Asia

They also discussed the Myanmar’s junta lack of progress in implementing an Asean peace plan, and talked about a possible travel corridor

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Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah greets his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi ahead of their bilateral meeting in Jakarta on October 18. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 10:30pm, 18 Oct 2021Updated: 10:30pm, 18 Oct 2021

Indonesia and Malaysia share strong reservations over Australia’s decision to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, even though nuclear weapons were not part of the plan, Malaysia’s foreign minister said on Monday.

Referring to Aukus, a trilateral security pact agreed last month between Australia, the United States and Britain, Saifuddin Abdullah said the two Southeast Asian nations were similarly concerned about its ramifications.

“We agree on the latest issue in the region regarding a country near our territory that is purchasing new nuclear-powered submarines,” Saifuddin told a joint news conference after a meeting counterpart Retno Marsudi.

“Even though that country doesn’t have the capacity for nuclear weapons, we are worried and concerned.”

Indonesia last month said it was concerned Aukus could lead to a regional arms race.

“This situation will certainly not benefit anyone,” Marsudi said. “We both agreed that efforts to maintain a peaceful and stable region must continue and don’t want the current dynamics to cause tension in the arms race and also in power projection.”