Virginia: The Pentagon has launched a comprehensive review of the Aukus security pact, an ambitious trilateral defence agreement between the US, UK, and Australia, with growing concerns over its compatibility with President Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ doctrine.
A Pentagon official confirmed that the review is being conducted to ensure the initiative of the previous administration aligns with the president’s ‘America First’ agenda, citing the need for maximum readiness, equitable allied assistance to collective defence, and a robust defence industrial base.
The Aukus deal, first announced in 2021 under President Joe Biden, was set to see Australia develop nuclear-powered submarines in a strategic effort to counter China’s military expansion in the Indo-Pacific. Under the agreement, Australia would purchase up to five Virginia-class submarines from the US starting in 2032, observed by the development of a joint next-generation submarine in the early 2040s.
However, with Aukus-skeptic Elbridge Colby reportedly tasked with overseeing the review now in a key defence position, questions are being raised about the deal’s future. Colby previously claimed that it would be crazy for the US to part with its nuclear submarines in the event of a Taiwan conflict.
The review has already triggered allied anxiety, particularly in Australia, which is counting on Aukus to completely overhaul its submarine fleet. Canberra has pledged A$368 billion ($239 billion) over 30 years to the programme and has already transferred over A$800 million ($520 million) to help fund US submarine production.
Adding to the pressure, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Australia to boost its military spending from 2 percent to 3.5 percent of GDP well above the current 2.4 percent commitment made by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has insisted on maintaining sovereign control over national defence priorities.
The UK, meanwhile, responded with cautious optimism. In a statement, the British government remarked that, “Aukus is a landmark security and defence partnership with two of our closest allies. It is one of the most strategically important partnerships in decades. Understandably, a new administration would want to review its guidelines for such a major partnership.”
Only six countries currently operate nuclear-powered submarines—making Aukus a rare opportunity for Australia to join an exclusive defence club alongside the US, UK, Russia, China, France, and India.
Despite its potential, the Aukus pact may be in jeopardy. Trump has yet to make it a public priority and appeared unfamiliar with the acronym when questioned during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s February visit, replying that, “What does that mean?”
The review comes just hours after the UK committed $7.69billion (£6billion) to expand its own nuclear submarine industrial base, reaffirming its long-term commitment to the Aukus framework.
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