US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has affirmed that the United States is committed to delivering its first nuclear submarine to Australia as part of the AUKUS deal. This follows the Albanese government’s recent payment of $798 million to the US as part of this agreement. In a meeting with Australia’s Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles, Hegseth noted that the Trump administration is “supportive” of the $3 billion deal, which aims to bolster the US’s submarine production capability.
As part of the AUKUS pact, Australia will acquire three Virginia-class submarines from the US and collaborate with Britain to construct five new AUKUS-class submarines. Despite concerns regarding the US’s capacity to meet its own military submarine needs, Hegseth’s comments suggest confidence that the deal will proceed as planned, with the first submarine expected to arrive in the early 2030s.
Marles expressed optimism about the initial financial contribution, highlighting its significance during the early days of Hegseth’s tenure. The AUKUS agreement, signed nearly four years ago, is intended to ensure a “free and open Indo-Pacific” in response to increasing regional assertiveness from China.