Indonesia, Malaysia concerned over AUKUS nuclear subs plan

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi meets US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a meeting with foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations on Sept 23, 2021, on the sidelines of the 76th UN General Assembly in New York. (KENA BETANCUR / POOL / AFP)

JAKARTA – Malaysia and Indonesia 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 Abdullah,

Malaysian foreign minister

"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."

READ MORE: M'sia PM: AUKUS raises risk of tensions, regional arms race

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

Meanwhile, Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the Association of Southeast Asia Nations will continue to offer humanitarian assistance to Myanmar.

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The foreign ministers also said they were in discussion about starting a travel corridor between Indonesia and Malaysia, and had agreed to finalise maritime sea borders in southern Malacca and the Sulawesi Sea.