Australia could initially lease submarines from UK or US but nuclear weapons remain off limits

Senior ministers confirm leasing nuclear-powered vessels from Aukus allies could be stop-gap solution until Australia takes delivery of its own submarines.

The short-term leasing of nuclear-powered submarines from the UK or the US is being considered by the Morrison government but the Coalition insists nuclear weapons won’t be based in Australia.

Birmingham said leasing arrangements would not necessarily “increase the number of submarines and the capability across all of the partner nations” but would help with training and information sharing.

“We’ve been clear, Australia’s position in relation to nuclear weapons does not change, will not change,” he said on Sunday.

Birmingham said Australia had informed the French government “at the earliest available opportunity” of the plan to scrap a submarine deal with the French which prompted Paris to recall its ambassadors from Canberra and Washington.

Birmingham said the French were told the $90bn submarine deal was off “before it became public”.

Birmingham said changes, not just in technology but also the region, had made a new deal necessary.

Malaysia said on Saturday that Canberra’s decision to build atomic-powered submarines could trigger a regional nuclear arms race, echoing concerns already raised by Beijing