US Doubles Down on Nuclear Submarine Plans in South Pacific

Newsweek

6 days ago

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The United States continues to send its nuclear-powered submarines to Australia—its key South Pacific ally—even as the Trump administration reviews the countries' naval cooperation.
USS Ohio, an Ohio-class guided-missile submarine, arrived in Brisbane—on Australia's eastern coast—on Sunday. The visit coincides with the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific Day on August 15, which marks the end of World War II in the Pacific, the U.S. Navy said.
Why It Matters
The U.S. and the United Kingdom are assisting Australia in acquiring conventionally armed, nuclear-powered attack submarines under AUKUS. However, the trilateral pact is now under review to determine whether it aligns with President Donald Trump's "America First" policy.
The review comes amid China's naval buildup, with the East Asian power now operating the world's largest navy by hull count. AUKUS—established under the Biden administration—calls for the U.S. to sell up to five Virginia-class fast-attack submarines to its Pacific ally.
The deployment of the Ohio is part of the Pentagon's efforts to bolster its naval presence across the Pacific, including the recent reassignment of two East Coast-based fast-attack submarines—USS Toledo and USS Indiana—to a Hawaii-based unit earlier this month.
What To Know
The Ohio—capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles—moored alongside the submarine tender USS Frank Cable, which arrived in Brisbane a day earlier. The Frank Cable provides critical maintenance and logistics support to submarines in the Indo-Pacific.
According to the U.S. Navy, the Ohio is the first Ohio-class submarine to visit Brisbane. Homeported in Bangor, Washington, the submarine has been operating in the western Pacific since April, making two stopovers in Guam, including the most recent in late June.
The United States Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Ohio prepares to moor alongside the submarine tender USS Frank Cable in Brisbane, Australia, for a scheduled port visit on July 27.
The United States Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Ohio prepares to moor alongside the submarine tender USS Frank Cable in Brisbane, Australia, for a scheduled port visit on July 27.
Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Haley Wilson/U.S. Navy
The submarine—one of four in its class converted from carrying nuclear ballistic missiles to 1,000-mile-range conventional land-attack missiles—can also accommodate up to 66 special operations personnel. Its sister ships are USS Michigan, USS Florida and USS Georgia.
This was not the first time Australia hosted an American nuclear-powered submarine. USS Minnesota, a Virginia-class submarine homeported in Guam, made port calls on Australia's western coast in late February and its northern coast in late March during its deployment.
The arrival of the Ohio also coincided with the ongoing multinational Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, held across Australia with participation from the U.S. military. The war game focused on countering China's military threat and featured a number of missile drills.
It remains unclear whether the submarine's visit to Australia is part of the ongoing war game. According to the U.S. Navy, the submarine is conducting "routine operations" within the Seventh Fleet's operating area, which encompasses the western Pacific and the Indian Ocean.
What People Are Saying
The U.S. Submarine Group Seven said in a news release on Sunday: "During World War II, Brisbane served as a major submarine hub, hosting over 70 U.S. Navy submarines and three submarine tenders. Steeped in U.S. naval history, Brisbane continues to play a role in the shared history of the two nations, as evidenced by Frank Cable's visit."
U.S. Navy Captain Mike Thompson, the commanding officer of USS Frank Cable, said in a news release on Saturday: "U.S. and Australian forces have a proud history dating back to World War I of working together to further our shared commitment and values of freedom and democracy. We are grateful to have the opportunity to visit Brisbane to help strengthen our relationship with our allies who share our interest of preserving peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether the Pentagon will continue deploying its submarine fleet to Australia, given the uncertainty surrounding the future of AUKUS.