Nuclear submarine agreement with Australia faces Pentagon scrutiny amid shortages
The Pentagon is reevaluating its involvement in the nuclear submarine agreement known as AUKUS, a deal struck by former President Joe Biden with Australia and the United Kingdom. This reconsideration comes as the U.S. faces challenges with shipbuilding capabilities on the home front.
A U.S. defense official stated, “The Department is reviewing AUKUS as part of ensuring that this initiative of the previous Administration is aligned with the president’s ‘America First’ agenda.” The focus is on ensuring readiness of service members, allied contributions to collective defense, and the capacity of the defense industrial base to meet national needs.
Under the AUKUS agreement, the U.S. and the UK would assist Australia in acquiring conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines to counter China’s military presence in the Indo-Pacific region. The plan involved Australia purchasing Virginia-class submarines in the early 2030s and jointly designing a new class of submarines for Australian production in the 2040s. Additionally, technology sharing in cyber, quantum capabilities, AI, hypersonics, and deep sea radar was part of the agreement.
However, concerns have arisen about the U.S.’s ability to produce enough attack submarines for itself before providing them to Australia. Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby highlighted the importance of ensuring the strength of the U.S. military before committing to international agreements.
Australia has committed to increasing its defense spending to 2.4% by the mid-2030s, but the U.S. is urging a faster increase to 3.5%. Admiral Sam Paparo of Indo-Pacific Command expressed support for the AUKUS initiative, noting the strategic advantage of an Indian Ocean submarine base for faster response times in the South China Sea.
Congress has allocated significant funds for boosting submarine and shipbuilding capabilities, but concerns have been raised about the transparency of the Pentagon’s plans in this area. Lawmakers, including Rep. Rosa DeLauro, have pushed for detailed data to support the Pentagon’s claims of closing the shipbuilding gap.
It remains to be seen how the Pentagon’s review of the AUKUS agreement will impact the future of U.S. involvement in the deal and the broader strategic objectives in the Indo-Pacific region. The focus on ensuring military readiness, allied contributions, and domestic defense industrial capabilities will be key factors in shaping the path forward.
