AUKUS Deal Back from the Brink: Albanese Breathes Sigh of Relief as Pentagon Review Gives Green Light for Nuclear Submarines
- AUKUS deal to acquire nuclear submarines for Australia given new lease of life
- Pentagon review concludes, paving way for historic White House meeting between Albanese and Trump
- Deal’s future was in doubt due to concerns over US production capacity and potential use in Taiwan-China conflict
In a major breakthrough, the AUKUS deal to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines has been given the green light, following a Pentagon review. This comes as a huge relief to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has been under intense pressure over his handling of foreign affairs.
Sources close to the Japanese newspaper Nikkei have revealed that the review will conclude before Albanese’s meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on October 20. A US Department of War official, however, has played down the development, saying that “the AUKUS initiative is still under review” and there are “no further AUKUS updates to announce at this time”.
The fate of the $368 billion deal had been hanging in the balance, with two major sticking points: whether US production lines could deliver three Virginia-class submarines from 2032, and whether Australia would use the subs in the event of a conflict with China over Taiwan. Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles has been adamant that Australia has been participating in the review and receiving regular updates from the Trump Administration.
“We are very confident about the deal and we have been saying that from the way through,” Marles told ABC Radio Melbourne. “How we can do this better is something we will all continue to be striving for throughout the progress of AUKUS.”
With the deal seemingly back on track, Albanese can now focus on other pressing issues, such as trade and tariffs, during his meeting with Trump. The Prime Minister’s White House visit had been threatened by the uncertainty surrounding the AUKUS deal, but this latest development is a welcome reprieve.