US reviewing AUKUS as Trump pursues ‘America first agenda'

Sky News AU

a day ago

The US is reviewing the AUKUS defence pact with Australia and the UK to ensure it aligns with Donald Trump's 'America First' agenda.
Australia has already spent billions on laying the groundwork to acquire and build nuclear-powered submarines and train personnel to crew them under the trilateral partnership.
US defence officials said overnight the move was about 'ensuring the highest readiness of our servicemembers'.
'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,' they said in a statement.
'As Secretary Hegseth has made clear, this means ensuring the highest readiness of our servicemembers, 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 common sense, America First criteria.'
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles on Thursday downplayed the review, saying it was 'natural that the (Trump) administration would want to examine this major undertaking'.
'We are committed to AUKUS and we look forward to working closely with the US on the review,' he said in a statement.
'The United States advised Australia and the UK of the review.
'It is natural that the (Trump) administration would want to examine this major undertaking including progress and delivery, just as the UK government recently concluded an AUKUS review and reaffirmed its support including through the appointment of Sir Stephen Lovegrove as its AUKUS adviser.
'All three countries are committed to ensuring AUKUS meets national and trilateral objectives.'
Mr Marles, who also holds the defence portfolio, stressed AUKUS would 'grow both US and Australian defence industry as well as generating thousands of new manufacturing jobs'.
'Our engagement with the Trump Administration and across the full political spectrum in the United States has shown clear and consistent support for AUKUS,' he said.
'We look forward to continuing our close co-operation with the Trump Administration on this historic project.'
The review is led by top Pentagon adviser and AUKUS sceptic Elbridge Colby.
Mr Colby has criticised Australia for not splashing enough cash to counter China.
'The main concern the United States should press with Australia, consistent with the President's approach, is higher defence spending,' Mr Colby said in written answers to the committee confirming his appointment in March.
'Australia is currently well below the 3 per cent level advocated for NATO, by NATO Secretary General (Mark) Rutte, and Canberra faces a far more powerful challenge in China.'
Anthony Albanese pushed back at the time, describing the Australia-US alliance as 'secure'.
But US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth renewed Washington's call for Canberra to hike defence spending earlier this month amid an 'imminent' threat from China.
Mr Hegseth told Mr Marles Australia should be spending 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence.
Both Mr Marles and the Prime Minister have repeatedly rejected the request, saying Australia would determine its own national interest.
In the US Democratic congressman Joe Courtney, co-chair of the Congressional AUKUS Working Group, has slammed the review.
Taking to social media, Mr Courtney said the collapse of the pact would spark 'rejoice in Beijing'.
'The Trump administration has the right to review AUKUS, but just like the UK's own review found, AUKUS is overwhelmingly in the interest of all 3 nations and the entire Indo-Pacific,' he said.
'Abandoning AUKUS would cause lasting harm to our standing with close allies and rejoice in Beijing.'
'Strength to strength'
Meanwhile, Australia's ambassador in Washington has praised the Australia-US alliance at an event with conservatives.
'As the Australian government, we've worked closely with 15 American presidents, Republican and Democrat … in the post war period,' Kevin Rudd told attendees.
'Fifteen Australian prime ministers, Labor and conservative, and I've been one of them.
'And the relationship gets closer and closer and closer.
'Of course, we got a bunch of common values and a common interest, which unite us now.'
The former Labor prime minister has faced questions about his ability to best represent Australia in the US due to his past criticisms of Donald Trump.
Over the past decade, Mr Rudd has called the US President a 'village idiot', 'nuts', the 'most destructive president in history' and a 'traitor to the West'.
Mr Trump has called Mr Rudd 'nasty' and 'not the brightest bulb'.
Mr Rudd has the firm backing of Labor, with the Albanese government crediting him with much of the diplomatic legwork around AUKUS.
Originally published as US reviewing AUKUS as Trump pursues 'America First' agenda