PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: The United States is conducting a review of the AUKUS defence pact with the United Kingdom and Australia.
👥 Who’s Involved: The American, British, and Australian governments; Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby leading the review.
💬 Key Quote: A British government spokesman called AUKUS “one of the most strategically important partnerships in decades.”
⚠️ Impact: The review raises concerns about potential U.S. withdrawal, as payments from Australia to the U.S. for submarine manufacturing have already begun.
IN FULL:
The Trump administration is reviewing the AUKUS defence pact, a trilateral agreement with the United Kingdom and Australia focused on developing nuclear-powered submarines. The review, led by Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, has prompted concerns about the possibility of the U.S. withdrawing from the agreement. Colby has previously expressed some skepticism about building nuclear-powered submarines, a “crown jewel” American asset, to other states.
However, the British Prime Minister’s office has responded to the review, describing it as “understandable” for the U.S. to assess the project. A British government spokesman emphasized the significance of the pact, calling AUKUS “one of the most strategically important partnerships in decades.”
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles also addressed the review, stating that he had been aware of it for some time and welcomed the process. Marles noted that both the British and Australian governments conducted their own reviews of the agreement following the elections of the countries’ currently governing parties.
Despite the concerns raised by some, U.S. Ambassador to London Warren Stephens has expressed support for the AUKUS partnership. Additionally, Australia has already made the first of six payments, each amounting to $500 million, to the United States for new nuclear submarines, bolstering the American shipbuilding industry.
The AUKUS partnership, announced in 2021, aims to enhance defence cooperation among the three English-speaking allies, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.