Former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating has raised concerns about the Aukus security pact, warning that Australia’s involvement in the U.S.-led submarine deal could entangle the country in future conflicts with China. Keating argued that if the U.S. were to lose a war with China, Australia might suffer retaliation for participating in the conflict. He cited comments from U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul, a strong critic of China and co-chair of the Congressional Friends of Australia group, who claimed that Australia is a strategic target for U.S. adversaries. McCaul suggested that deeper military ties with the U.S. would better protect Australia than leaving it isolated. McCaul argued that U.S. nuclear-powered submarines operating from Australian bases could also carry nuclear weapons after 2032. He stated that the U.S. military assumes Australia would support any U.S. intervention to protect Taiwan, a key flashpoint in U.S.-China tensions. During a recent visit to Australia, McCaul met with top Australian officials, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles. He emphasized the importance of Australia aligning with U.S. military priorities in the region. Keating criticized the Aukus agreement, claiming it risks Australia’s sovereignty by binding the country to U.S. military decisions. He warned that if the U.S. were to lose a war with China, it would retreat from the region, leaving Australia vulnerable to Chinese retaliation for having participated in the conflict. Keating described Australia as increasingly entangled in U.S. military strategies, with its independence being compromised by the pact. The Guardian reported that the U.S. military and its corporate allies have access to over 100 military bases across Australia, with more than half of the country’s military installations under U.S. control or influence. Facilities like Pine Gap, a major intelligence hub, provide critical surveillance and targeting support for U.S. military operations. Meanwhile, Greens Senator David Shoebridge criticized McCaul’s remarks, calling Australia a "beachhead" for U.S. military action against China. Shoebridge questioned how Aukus could protect Australia if it involved allowing nuclear-armed submarines to operate in the country and explicitly positioning Australia as a staging ground for a potential U.S.-China war. Under the Aukus agreement, Australia will purchase three U.S. Virginia-class submarines from 2032, followed by the development of a new Aukus-class submarine designed in the UK. These submarines will be built in South Australia, with the exception of their nuclear reactors. The U.S. navy plans to deploy nuclear-armed cruise missiles on some of its Virginia-class submarines starting in 2032. While the U.S. maintains a policy of "strategic ambiguity" regarding its nuclear arsenal, Australia is bound by the Treaty of Rarotonga, which prohibits the stationing of nuclear weapons on its territory.