United States to conduct review into AUKUS agreement as PM prepares to meet Trump
Australia's AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine deal with the United States and United Kingdom is facing a review by the Pentagon, as the prime minister prepares for his first face-to-face meeting with the US president. Since returning to the White House, Donald Trump has provided some reassurance about the future of the $368 billion submarine agreement struck in the Biden era. But in a move first reported by the Financial Times and confirmed by the Pentagon, a review will be conducted to ensure the program meets the "America First" criteria. Announced in 2021, the AUKUS agreement was designed to eventually support a shipbuilding industry in Australia to construct the highly complex nuclear-powered submarines using a UK design and technology shared between the three countries.
But in the 15 years ahead of that, the US was set to provide at least three Virginia-class submarines, though its own domestic manufacturing industry is under pressure. Australia's agreement on AUKUS included significant investment in the American production line, and has been considered advantageous to the US. US Democrat congressman Joe Courtney, one of AUKUS' supporters in Washington, warned of serious consequences if the Trump administration junks the defence agreement. "To abandon AUKUS — which is already well under way — would cause lasting harm to our nation's standing with close allies and certainly be met with great rejoicing in Beijing," Courtney said.
The prime minister is expected to lock in face-to-face talks with Trump on the sidelines of the G7 in Canada, which starts on Sunday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
23 minutes ago
- West Australian
Australian news and politics live: Albanese travelling to G7 summit without Trump meeting confirmation
Scroll down for the latest news and updates. Before Anthony Albanese took off, the Australian Prime Minister shared his thoughts for 'everyone affected' by the deadly Air India plane crash. 'The news of a passenger plane crash in Ahmedabad is absolutely devastating,' he wrote on X. 'In this time of tragedy, Australia's thoughts are with everyone affected. 'Our government is receiving regular updates and we will continue to monitor the situation closely.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is travelling to Canada and the United States, where he will meet with world leaders; however, a meeting with US President Donald Trump remains in limbo. Mr Albanese will first travel to Fiji, where he will meet Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, before continuing to Canada. On the sidelines of the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, Mr Albanese is expected to meet new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as well as others. However, it is a meeting with Mr Trump that Mr Albanese may be hoping for most. On Thursday, the Pentagon launched a review of AUKUS to ensure it aligned with Mr Trump's 'America First' agenda. The Republican president has never publicly voiced his support for AUKUS.
News.com.au
25 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Manhandling of US senator ups California tensions with Trump admin
California's stand-off with President Donald Trump's administration ratcheted up Thursday, after a sitting US senator was handcuffed and forcibly removed from a press conference on controversial immigration raids that have spurred days of protests. The shocking incident, which came after the Republican president sent troops into Los Angeles over the objections of local and state officials, was swiftly slammed by furious Democrats who said it "reeks of totalitarianism." Video footage shows Senator Alex Padilla, a Democrat, being pushed from the room at a federal building in Los Angeles as he tried to ask Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about the raids. "I'm Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary," he said as two men grappled with him in front of journalists, including from AFP. Footage filmed by Padilla's staff outside the room shows the senator being pushed to the ground and handcuffed. Democratic-led California is currently embroiled in battles with the White House on several fronts, with Governor Gavin Newsom branding Trump "dictatorial" as his lawyers prepared to face off with the administration over the deployment of 4,700 troops to the city. "If this is how this administration responds to a senator with a question... you can only imagine what they're doing to farm workers, to cooks, to day laborers out in the Los Angeles community," Padilla told reporters later at a press conference. The incident "reeks of totalitarianism," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, calling for an investigation. "Trump and his shock troops are out of control," Newsom posted on social media. The White House hit back, claiming it was a "theater-kid stunt" and claiming without evidence that Padilla "lunged toward Secretary Noem." Noem slammed Padilla's interruption as "inappropriate." A Homeland Security spokesman said she later met with the senator for 15 minutes. Noem was addressing reporters after almost a week of demonstrations in Los Angeles ignited by the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. The mostly-peaceful demonstrations have been marred by some eye-catching violence, with cars torched and rocks thrown at police officers. Trump, who has repeatedly exaggerated the scale of the unrest, deployed 4,000 National Guard as well as 700 US Marines. Critics have accused the Republican of a power grab and a judge was set to review the deployments' legality. Trump took credit Thursday for making Los Angeles "safe and sound." Anger at Trump's crackdown and the use of masked, armed immigration agents, backed by uniformed soldiers, is spreading to other cities. Nationwide protests were planned for Saturday. - 'Fear and terror' - A federal judge in San Francisco was set to hear arguments on whether use of the troops is constitutional, with Newsom alleging the president "is creating fear and terror." Trump on Thursday said Newsom -- seen as a contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028 -- had "totally lost control of the situation" and should thank him for "saving his ass." California also sued Trump's administration Thursday over his move to scrap the state's tailpipe emission rules and its drive to phase out gas-powered cars. Trump was elected last year after campaigning on a promise to launch historic mass deportations. But with his mounting crackdown rippling through industries heavily reliant on immigrant labor -- such as farming, construction and hospitality -- Trump on Thursday said he had heard employers' complaints and hinted at a forthcoming policy shift. "We're going to have an order on that pretty soon, I think. We can't do that to our farmers -- and leisure too, hotels," he said. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke up Thursday, saying she had told a visiting US official that "we didn't agree with the use of raids to detain people working honestly in the United States." Protests also took place in Spokane, Seattle, Tucson, Las Vegas, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Milwaukee, Chicago, Atlanta, and Boston, according to US media. A nationwide "No Kings" movement was expected on Saturday, when Trump will attend a highly unusual military parade in the US capital. The Washington parade, featuring warplanes and tanks, has been organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the US Army but also happens to be the day of Trump's 79th birthday.
ABC News
27 minutes ago
- ABC News
George Clarke's Remarkable Renovations: Trailer
George Clarke's Remarkable Renovations Lifestyle Home Improvement Inspiring Watch Trailer Article share options Share this on Facebook Twitter Send this by Email Copy link WhatsApp Messenger How do you turn a building that was never intended for domestic use into a welcoming home? In this uplifting series, George Clarke breathes new life into industrial, commercial and agri-cultural buildings.
