SYDNEY: Australia said Thursday it is \u201cvery confident\u201d in the future of a US agreement to equip its navy with a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, after the Trump administration put the pact under review.<\/p>\n
The 2021 AUKUS deal joins Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States in a multi-decade effort to balance China\u2019s growing military might.<\/p>\n
It aims to arm Australia with a fleet of cutting-edge, nuclear-powered submarines from the United States and provides for cooperation in developing an array of warfare technologies.<\/p>\n
US President Donald Trump\u2019s administration has advised Australia and the United Kingdom that it is reviewing AUKUS, a spokesperson for the Australian Department of Defense confirmed Thursday.<\/p>\n
Defense Minister Richard Marles said he was \u201cvery confident\u201d Australia would still get the American submarines.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the review that\u2019s been announced is not a surprise,\u201d he told public broadcaster ABC.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been aware of this for some time. We welcome it. It\u2019s something which is perfectly natural for an incoming administration to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Australia plans to acquire at least three Virginia Class submarines from the United States within 15 years, eventually manufacturing its own subs.<\/p>\n
The US Navy has 24 Virginia-class vessels, which can carry cruise missiles, but American shipyards are struggling to meet production targets set at two new boats each year.<\/p>\n
In the United States, critics question why Washington would sell nuclear-powered submarines to Australia without stocking its own military first.<\/p>\n
Marles said boosting the US production of US Virginia Class submarines was a challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why we are working very closely with the United States on seeing that happen. But that is improving,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s focus is on \u201csticking to this plan and on seeing it through,\u201d Marles said.<\/p>\n
He criticized Australia\u2019s previous conservative government for \u201cchopping and changing\u201d its submarine choice.<\/p>\n
On the eve of announcing its participation in AUKUS in 2021, the government of the time abruptly scrapped plans to buy diesel-powered submarines in a lucrative deal with France \u2014 infuriating Paris.<\/p>\n
The AUKUS submarine program alone could cost the country up to $235 billion over the next 30 years, according to Australian government forecasts, a price tag that has contributed to criticism of the strategy.<\/p>\n
Australia should conduct its own review of AUKUS, said former conservative prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, noting that Britain and now the United States had each decided to re-examine the pact.<\/p>\n
\u201cAustralia, which has the most at stake, has no review. Our parliament to date has been the least curious and least informed. Time to wake up?\u201d he posted on X.<\/p>\n
Former Labour Party prime minister Paul Keating, a vehement critic of AUKUS, said the US review might \u201csave Australia from itself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Australia should carve its own security strategy \u201crather than being dragged along on the coat tails of a fading Atlantic empire,\u201d Keating said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe review makes clear that America keeps its national interests uppermost. But the concomitant question is: Why has Australia failed to do the same?\u201d<\/p>\n
Any US review of AUKUS carries a risk, particularly since it is a Biden-era initiative, said Euan Graham, senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.<\/p>\n
But it is \u201cfundamentally a good deal for the US,\u201d he said, with Australia already investing cash to boost American submarine production as part of the agreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just do not think it is realistic for Australia, this far backed in, to have any prospect of withdrawing itself from AUKUS,\u201d Graham said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think there is a Plan B that would meet requirements and I think it would shred Australia\u2019s reputation fundamentally in a way that would not be recoverable.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SYDNEY: Australia said Thursday it is \u201cvery confident\u201d in the future of a US agreement to equip its navy with a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, after the Trump administration put the pact under review. The 2021 AUKUS deal joins Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States in a multi-decade effort to balance China\u2019s growing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":483749,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-483734","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n