The Trump Administration Examines the AUKUS Submarine Agreement with Australia & Britain

A multi-billion-dollar submarine deal between the US, UK, and Australia—long-time allies—has come under scrutiny after the Trump administration announced it was examining how the deal aligns with its much-discussed "America First" agenda.

Australia's largest defence project to date, the Aukus security pact, is expected to be essential to the nation's ability to replace its ageing Collins-class submarine fleet and, more importantly, to its military prestige in the area.

Elbridge Colby, who has previously criticised Aukus, will lead the 30-day review. He asked why the United States would give away "this crown jewel asset when we most need it" in a speech last year.

The US defence spokesperson stated that the review is to align the previous administration's initiative with the President's America First agenda. The UK and Australia have downplayed fears of the review potentially causing the deal to be halted.

Aukus: What is it?

Known as a trilateral security partnership, the Aukus deal, which spans 30 years and is valued at £176 billion ($239 billion; A$368 billion), consists of two pillars:

Pillar 1 deals with the supply and delivery of nuclear-powered attack submarines.

Australia will purchase three second-hand Virginia-class submarines from the United States beginning in 2032, with options for two more.

The plan is to create a new nuclear-powered submarine model for the UK and Australian navies, designed in Britain and Australia, utilising technology from all three countries.

Pillar 2 focuses on the allies' collaboration on "advanced capabilities". This entails sharing military expertise in fields such as long-range hypersonic missiles, underwater robotics, and artificial intelligence.

The Deal's Objective

The deal aims to counter China's growing presence in the Indo-Pacific region and its role in disputed territories like the South China Sea. Although none of the allies directly cited China as a reason, regional security concerns have grown significantly in recent years.

Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, criticised the agreement as irresponsible, stating it undermined regional peace and stability and intensified the arms race.

In September 2021, former leaders Scott Morrison, Boris Johnson, and Joe Biden unveiled a security pact, which was reviewed in the UK after Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government won the general election.

How does it benefit Australia?

Australia is set to become the second country to receive Washington's elite nuclear propulsion technology, following the UK.

New submarines will offer faster and longer-range operations than its current diesel-engine fleet, enabling the country to carry out long-range strikes against enemies.

The agreement calls for the Royal Australian Navy to send sailors to submarine bases in the US and the UK to train on the nuclear-powered vessels.

How does it benefit the US and the UK?

As of 2027, the agreement permits the United States and the United Kingdom to station a limited number of nuclear submarines in Perth, Western Australia.

Approximately 7,000 jobs will also be created in Britain as a result of the new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines being designed and built there.

The US may be able to expand its presence in the Asia-Pacific region by sharing its defence technology, though the advantages are less clear.

In the past, Washington and Downing Street have believed that arming Australia is necessary to maintain peace in a region that is very different from their own.

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