Pentagon’s AUKUS review finds opportunities to put deal on ‘strongest possible footing’, US official says
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The AUKUS defence deal - Australia, UK and US - will allow Australia to acquire US nuclear-powered submarines.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
- The Pentagon completed its AUKUS review, aiming to strengthen the nuclear submarine partnership between the US, UK, and Australia.
- Despite initial concerns, President Trump supports AUKUS, signalling it should move "full steam ahead," according to Sean Parnell.
- Australia is reviewing the US findings and is committed to spending A$368 billion over three decades on the AUKUS programme.
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WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has completed its review of the AUKUS nuclear submarine partnership and found areas to put the deal on the “strongest possible footing,” a US official said on Dec 4.
President Donald Trump’s administration said in June it had launched a formal review into the AUKUS defence deal
“Consistent with President Trump’s guidance that AUKUS should move ‘full steam ahead,’ the review identified opportunities to put AUKUS on the strongest possible footing,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said.
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia had received the United States’ review of the AUKUS nuclear submarine partnership and is “working through it”.
It had sparked alarm in Canberra, but concerns were eased when Mr Trump signalled his support for the programme
The review was led by the Pentagon’s Under Secretary Elbridge Colby, who said in 2024 that submarines were a scarce, critical commodity, and US industry could not produce enough to meet American demand.
AUKUS is Australia’s biggest-ever defence project, with Canberra committing to spend A$368 billion (S$315 billion) over three decades to the programme, which includes billions of dollars of investment in the US submarine production base. REUTERS
