Key Takeaways
- The Pentagon’s review of the AUKUS pact has identified areas to put it on its "strongest possible footing"
- The review "fully endorses" the Australia-UK-US pact, according to a congressman who has seen the review
- The pact aims to provide Australia with a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines and develop joint advanced military capabilities
- There are critical deadlines that all three countries must meet to implement the pact
- The review’s findings may not be made public
Introduction to the AUKUS Pact
The AUKUS pact, a trilateral agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, has been under review by the Pentagon. The review, which was completed recently, has identified areas to put the pact on its "strongest possible footing," according to Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell. The pact aims to provide Australia with a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines and develop joint advanced military capabilities in areas such as undersea, quantum technologies, AI, and hypersonic weapons. The review’s findings have not been released, and it is unclear whether they will be made public.
The Review’s Findings
According to Congressman Joe Courtney, who has seen the review, it "fully endorses" the AUKUS pact and highlights the "critical deadlines" that all three countries must meet to implement the pact. Courtney, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said that the review concludes that the pact aligns with America’s national security interests. The review also notes that the statutory authority enacted by Congress in 2023, which includes the sale of three Virginia-class submarines starting in 2032, will remain intact.
Challenges in Implementing the Pact
Despite the review’s positive findings, there are still significant challenges to implementing the pact. One of the main challenges is the ambitious timeline outlined in the agreement. The plan is for Australia to buy between three and five nuclear-powered submarines from the US, beginning in the early 2030s. However, the US is currently not meeting its submarine-building targets, with only about 1.2 Virginia-class submarines being built per year, compared to the required rate of 2.33 per year. Additionally, the first of Australia’s own nuclear-powered submarines, which will be built incorporating technology still being developed by the three nations, will not be complete until at least the early 2040s.
Pressure to Spend More on Defense
The AUKUS pact has also been subject to pressure from the US to increase defense spending. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has requested that Australia significantly lift its defense spending, which has been a point of contention between the two countries. There has also been speculation that the US could demand guarantees about how the AUKUS submarines would be deployed if America got involved in a military conflict. However, the review’s findings suggest that the pact will survive despite these challenges, with Congressman Courtney stating that funding boosts in recent years have meant that American submarine yards are "now delivering tonnage output near all-time highs."
The Future of the AUKUS Pact
The future of the AUKUS pact is still uncertain, despite the positive findings of the review. The pact has come under significant scrutiny, and there are still many questions about its feasibility. However, Australia’s top diplomat in London has stated that he believes the pact’s future is assured, and that it will survive despite changes in government in all three countries. The review’s findings will likely provide a boost to the pact, but it remains to be seen whether the challenges in implementing the agreement can be overcome. As Congressman Courtney noted, "expanding the submarine workforce, supply chain and facilities to even greater capacity is the clear pathway to meet the demands of US submarine fleet requirements and those of our ally Australia."