In a recent diplomatic faux pas, Donald Trump seemed uninformed about AUKUS, the defence agreement between Australia, the UK, and the US, during a press event with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House. When a journalist inquired if they would discuss AUKUS, which involves Australia acquiring nuclear-powered submarines, Trump responded, “What does that mean?”
After the journalist clarified that AUKUS pertains to the defence pact, Trump acknowledged, “we’ve had a very good relationship with Australia.” Despite this moment of confusion, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth later asserted that Trump is well aware of the AUKUS alliance.
Concerns regarding the AUKUS alliance have been heightened since Trump’s administration began, particularly as Australia plans to invest $368 billion over the next several years to secure a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines by the 2030s. Earlier in the month, the Australian government made a $500 million payment to the US as part of this arrangement, which aims to bolster military cooperation among the three nations and counterbalance an assertive China in the Indo-Pacific region.
The AUKUS pact was originally established under Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, almost four years ago. Under this agreement, Australia intends to procure three Virginia-class submarines from the US, alongside constructing five new AUKUS-class submarines in partnership with the UK. However, there are rising worries regarding the US’s capability to meet both its own military demand for nuclear-powered submarines and fulfil the commitments of the AUKUS deal.
Overall, the recent exchange underscores the delicate nature of international relations and the importance of being well-informed on critical defence partnerships.