The United States has launched a snap review of the $368 billion AUKUS submarine deal, just before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese prepares for a potential meeting with Donald Trump.
“The department is reviewing AUKUS as part of ensuring that this initiative of the previous administration is aligned with the president’s America First agenda,” a US defence official said.
“As [Defence] Secretary [Pete] Hegseth has made clear, this means ensuring the highest readiness of our service members, that allies step up fully to do their part for collective defence, and that the defence industrial base is meeting our needs. This review will ensure the initiative meets these commonsense, America First criteria.”
The news follows Hegseth’s recent request for Australia to significantly boost its defence spending “as soon as possible”.
“We are committed to AUKUS and we look forward to working closely with the US on the review,” the spokesperson said. “The United States advised Australia and the UK of the review. All three countries are committed to ensuring AUKUS meets national and trilateral objectives.
“Importantly, AUKUS will grow both US and Australian defence industry as well as generating thousands of new manufacturing jobs.”
Opposition defence spokesperson Angus Taylor called on Mr Albanese to “urgently seek a direct meeting with President Trump to safeguard the AUKUS agreement and ensure Australia’s national interests are protected.”
“If this review has been triggered by the Australian government’s refusal to commit to increased defence spending and its sanctioning of two Israeli ministers, then the government has serious questions to answer about how it is managing our most critical allies,” Mr Taylor said in a statement on Thursday morning.
“The Coalition supports AUKUS but it relies on trust. You can’t claim to be a reliable partner abroad while picking and choosing your principles at home. Australia cannot afford to be a fairweather friend.
“This government has sent mixed messages to our allies and now we’re seeing the consequences.”
Former prime minister Paul Keating says the Aukus review by the US “might very well be the moment Washington saves Australia from itself.”
The review should save Australia “from the most poorly conceived defence procurement program ever adopted by an Australian government”. Keating saidThe Albanese government had the chance to undertake a review in its own terms when first elected to office in May 2022, but denied itself the opportunity for fear of being seen as dodgy on the alliance. Now President Trump’s Pentagon, as it is entitled to do, is subjecting the deal to the kind of scrutiny that should have been applied to AUKUS in the first instance. The review makes clear that America keeps its national interests uppermost. But the concomitant question is: why has Australia failed to do the same?
The Prime Minister will attend the G7 Leaders’ Summit alongside Mr Trump in Alberta, Canada, from June 15 to 17, creating an opportunity to finally meet face-to-face with the President, although no plans have been confirmed.
The AUKUS review will be headed by US defence undersecretary Elbridge Colby and is expected to take about 30 days.
The United Kingdom had recently completed an AUKUS review and reaffirmed its support, appointing Sir Stephen Lovegrove as its AUKUS Adviser.
