Trump administration faces mounting pressure to release AUKUS probe details as a senior Democrat demands answers
US Democratic congressman Joe Courtney has taken aim at the US Department of Defence for a 'dearth of communication' and a lack of transparency.
Mr Courtney, who is also the co-chair of the Congressional Friends of Australia Caucus, said there was a 'systemic issue' with the Pentagon with supplying information requested by Congress.
The Trump administration's review of AUKUS — originally due to conclude by June — has been delayed, with uncertainty hanging over the timeline.
Speaking to The Australian, Mr Courtney said US Navy leadership had briefed the Pentagon on the ongoing AUKUS review, but was unable to ascertain the questions and answers involved.
The Pentagon's review of the $350 billion AUKUS arrangement, led by US Undersecretary of Defence for Policy Elbridge Colby, has not stopped Australian investments into the security partnership, which has so far amounted to $1.6 billion.
Mr Courney, who is the Democrats' ranking member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, said it was 'really problematic' for work to continue without further guidance being provided to AUKUS members.
The senior Democrat said it was hard to know how seriously President Donald Trump would take the review once it was completed and that it was not Mr Colby's responsibility to disclose his findings.
'The buck stops at the White House,' he said.
'We were told initially it was a 30-day review which obviously had people really sceptical that something that has been worked on for four years and had so much effort with the optimal pathway could get a fair analysis in 30 days.
'It does seem like the Department (of Defence) pumped the brakes in terms of the framework.'
Mr Courtney said while there was still work going on, it could be assumed AUKUS was 'here to stay'.
He said the Trump administration's approach was 'very frustrating' and a 'head scratcher'.
Last week, the Democrats' ranking member of the House armed services committee Adam Smith warned the Department of Defence and Congress was going to 'have to work together' and claimed the Department had shunned Congress 'more than any other DoD or administration' he had seen.
'I have not personally had a one-on-one conversation with the Secretary of Defence. I've sought out meetings with the Under Secretary for Policy. I've basically been told to p**s off … Which is unbelievable to me,' he said.
Earlier this month, shadow defence minister Angus Taylor said the Albanese government must now give clear assurances to the US that Australia will be a reliable security partner.
'We should be working closely with them to make sure that we have peace through deterrence and strength in our region,' Mr Taylor said.
'We should have a joint commitment with them to the security of Taiwan and peace in the Taiwan Strait.
'These are incredibly important things to be focusing on right now — and it's why AUKUS is so important.'
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