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7NEWS
an hour ago
- 7NEWS
Australia left hanging by US on key submarine deal
Anthony Albanese has downplayed the extension of the US review of its multibillion-dollar nuclear submarine deal with its long-term ally. The Pentagon announced a review of the AUKUS security pact in June, which was originally slated to take 30 days. It has sparked alarm Australia might not be s old the promised submarines, as US shipyards fall behind on production. But the US has now flagged the review will take longer and is now expected to finish between September and November. Asked if the delay was concerning, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese replied: 'No, it's not surprising that would be the case'. 'We expect that those things take longer than just 30 days,' he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday. Under the $368 billion agreement, Australia has been promised at least three Virginia-class submarines from the US in the early 2030s, before a new fleet of vessels is built for delivery from the 2040s. 'Its purpose will be to provide the president and his senior leadership team with a fact-based, rigorous assessment of the initiative,' the statement reads. US under secretary of defence Elbridge Colby - a sceptic of the submarine deal under AUKUS - is leading the review. A US statement said the review would be an empirical and 'clear-eyed assessment' of the security pact's alignment with US President Donald Trump's 'America First' objective. 'As part of this process, the department looks forward to continuing regular engagements on this matter with other parts of the US government, the US Congress, our allies Australia and the United Kingdom, and other key stakeholders,' it reads. Defence analysts have flagged a likely outcome of the US review will be a request for more money from Australia to support its submarine industrial base. Australia has since made its second $800 million payment to the US to help boost production of submarines, according to the Nine newspapers.
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
Australia left hanging by US on key submarine deal
Anthony Albanese has downplayed the extension of the US review of its multi-billion dollar nuclear submarine deal with its long-term ally. The Pentagon announced a review of the AUKUS security pact in June, which was originally slated to take 30 days. It has sparked alarm Australia might not be sold the promised submarines, as US shipyards fall behind on production. But the US has now flagged the review will take longer and is now expected to finish between September and November. Asked if the delay was concerning, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese replied: "No, it's not surprising that would be the case". "We expect that those things take longer than just 30 days," he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday. Under the $368 billion agreement, Australia has been promised at least three Virginia-class submarines from the US in the early 2030s, before a new fleet of vessels is built for delivery from the 2040s. "Its purpose will be to provide the president and his senior leadership team with a fact-based, rigorous assessment of the initiative," the statement reads. US under secretary of defence Elbridge Colby - a sceptic of the submarine deal under AUKUS - is leading the review. A US statement said the review would be an empirical and "clear-eyed assessment" of the security pact's alignment with US President Donald Trump's "America First" objective. "As part of this process, the department looks forward to continuing regular engagements on this matter with other parts of the US government, the US Congress, our allies Australia and the United Kingdom, and other key stakeholders," it reads. Defence analysts have flagged a likely outcome of the US review will be a request for more money from Australia to support its submarine industrial base. Australia has since made its second $800 million payment to the US to help boost production of submarines, according to the Nine newspapers.
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
‘Leverage?': Huge US decision on AUKUS
Anthony Albanese has denied the US is using its AUKUS review as 'leverage' after the Trump administration delayed it by several months. Donald Trump's defence policy chief, Elbridge Colby, announced the delay on Wednesday morning (AEST) but did not give a firm date. Instead, Mr Colby, an AUKUS sceptic, said the review would be completed 'in the fall' – much longer than the initial 30 days. It comes as the Albanese government resists Washington's demand to hike defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP in response to China's rapid military build-up. Mr Colby's office said the AUKUS review 'will be an empirical and clear-eyed assessment of the initiative's alignment with President Trump's America First approach'. 'As part of this process, the (US Department of Defence) looks forward to continuing regular engagements on this important matter with other parts of the US government, the US Congress, our allies Australia and the United Kingdom and other key stakeholders,' his office said. 'The department anticipates completing the review in the fall. 'Its purpose will be to provide the President and his senior leadership team with a fact-based, rigorous assessment of the initiative.' Speaking to reporters at Parliament House, the Prime Minister was asked if the delay was 'a cause for concern'. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the US is not using AUKUS as 'leverage'. Martin Ollman / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia 'No, it is not surprising that that would be the case and something that we expected something like that,' Mr Albanese said. 'We expected a review from an incoming government just like the Keir Starmer government did (in the UK). 'We expect that those things take longer than just 30 days.' Asked if it was being used as 'leverage', he simply replied: 'No.'
