The Pentagon on Thursday affirmed its support for the AUKUS Security Agreement, a strategic alliance between the two countries United States, United Kingdom and Australia Which seeks to supply Canberra with “at least three Virginia-class nuclear submarines within 15 years”.
The administration of US President Donald Trump, which had ordered a review of the agreement created under the government of former President Joe Biden, concluded after five months of analysis that the agreement “It aligns with President Trump’s America First agenda“.
Defense Department spokesman Sean Parnell noted that the review emphasized the need for “Unite AUKUS in the strongest possible position“, following Trump’s directives to move forward “full force.”
Congressman Joe Courtney, the Democratic leader on sea power issues in the House of Representatives, celebrated the news by saying: “The framework of the agreement is consistent with the interest of national security From our country.”
AUKUS is consolidated in a context of continuity: Courtney, who represents the Connecticut region associated with US submarine manufacturing, said the 2021 agreement “has survived three changes of government in the three countries and remains in place.”
The agreement includes the transfer of next-generation submarines and cooperation in military technologies, with sales expected from 2032. These ships are considered essential within “Australia’s strategy to enhance its long-range offensive capabilities in the Pacific, especially against China.”.
The agreement, which also provides for the development of Australia’s maritime industrial capacity, could be worth $235 billion over the next 30 years.
Australian Defense Industry Minister, Pat ConroyHe said he was “convinced that the American review confirmed that the American University in Australia is progressing at full strength.” He added that his portfolio would be actively involved in “further improving AUKUS,” although he noted that it would be up to Washington to publish the review document. “We have said publicly over the past two years that when we can improve the delivery and performance of AUKUS, we will,” Conroy reiterated.
It should be remembered that Australia’s accession to AUKUS led to a harsh diplomatic break with France after the cancellation of the contract to purchase diesel submarines for the Tripartite programme. In 2021, then Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce urged France to set the record straight: “Contracts have terms and conditions, and one of those terms and conditions and proposals is that you can get out of the contract.”
In domestic matters, the Missile Defense Initiative known as Golden domeOne of the star projects promoted by President Donald Trump is facing major delays due to a 43-day government shutdown and no clear spending plan for the first $25 billion allocated to the program, he revealed to Reuters Eight sources familiar with the situation.
That amount was approved in a budget reconciliation package in the summer, but according to two administration officials, a Capitol Hill staff member and industry executives, it has not yet been turned into a concrete action plan.
The prolonged government shutdown paralyzed the hiring process and removed key personnel responsible for approving and signing contracts from their duties, complicating the project’s progress. These difficulties raise questions about the Trump administration’s ability to deliver on its promise to have the $175 billion system up and running to protect the US mainland by 2028.
(Information from Agence France-Presse)