Three-space property for asymptotically uniformly smooth renormings

We prove that if $Y$ is a closed subspace of a Banach space $X$ such that $Y$ and $X/Y$ admit an equivalent asymptotically uniformly smooth norm, then $X$ also admits an equivalent asymptotically uniformly smooth norm. The proof is based on the use of the Szlenk index and yields a few other applications to renorming theory.