"Nuclear submarine cooperation between the three countries poses a serious threat of nuclear proliferation, violates the goals and objectives of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and negatively affects the international non-proliferation system," he said, TASS reported.

Wang Wenbin also noted that cooperation between the US, Australia and the UK marked the first transfer of energy reactors for nuclear-powered submarines and a large amount of weapons-grade enriched uranium to a non-nuclear-weapons nation.

Australia announced plans to create a nuclear submarine fleet in the fall of 2021 following reports about the establishment of its military alliance with the UK and the US (AUKUS).

In March 2023, the alliance adopted a three-phase plan to provide Canberra with conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines. Under the plan, five US and British nuclear submarines will be deployed to Australia by 2023. Three Virginia-class US submarines will be purchased for the country’s Navy starting in 2033. The UK will build the first submarine of the new SSN-AUKUS class by the early 2040s, and production will move to Australia’s Adelaide by 2042.