Observation
On 14 March 2023, the prime ministers of Australia and the United Kingdom and the president of the United States (AUKUS leaders) met in San Diego to announce the details of their plan for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
One month later in an April survey, the Lowy Institute Poll asked Australians about the impact they think the submarines will have on regional stability. Australians have mixed feelings in response to this question. Three in ten (28%) think the submarines will deter military conflict and help ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific region, while two in ten (20%) think they will increase the risk of military conflict and instability. Around half either say the submarines will make no difference (32%) or are not sure of their impact (20%).