US to review submarine pact as part of ‘America First’ agenda

The United States launched a review of the billions of dollars in the submarine deal with the United Kingdom and Australia, saying that the security agreement should suit the agenda of “America first”.

Under the tripartite agreement, which is believed to aim to confront China, Australia will get the first nuclear power submarines from the United States, before the Allies created a new fleet by sharing advanced technology.

Both Australia and the United Kingdom – which she reviewed last year – have reduced the news of the American investigation, saying it is normal for a new administration to re -evaluate.

The move comes at a time when Australia and the United Kingdom are facing pressure from the White House to lift military spending, and it is demanded by Douning Street, but it has greatly resisted it by Canberra.

The AUKUS Agreement – which is valued at 176 billion pounds (239 billion dollars; 368 billion dollars) – was signed in 2021, when all the three concerned countries had different leaders.

An American defense official told the BBC that the agreement is reviewed “as part of a guarantee that this initiative from the previous administration is in line with the agenda of the first president of America.”

“like [US Defence] secretary [Pete] Hegseth has made it clear, and this means ensuring the highest preparedness for our services [and] The defense official said that the allies are completely ascending to their role in the collective defense.

The United States has prompted the allies to start spending at least 3 % of GDP to defend as soon as possible.

The UK agreed to spend 2.5 % of GDP on its defense by 2028 and 3 % by the next parliament, while Australia also said it would raise funding, but not by the 3.5 % that the United States wants.

The review will be chaired by Elbridge Colby, who was previously criticized by AUKUS, in a speech last year wondering why the United States gave these “Jewel Asset Assets when we need it.”

Speaking to the local Australian media on Thursday morning, said he was optimistic that the deal will continue.

“I am very confident that this will happen,” he told Abc Radio Melbourne.

“You just need to look at the map to understand that Australia completely needs to have a long -term submarine capacity.”

Some in Australia were pressuring the country to develop a more worship defense strategy, but Maris said it was important to “adhere to a plan” – in reference to the previously controversial government cancellation of A submarine deal with France In favor of Owokos.

A Australian government spokesman told the BBC that it was “natural” that the new administration “will study” the agreement, adding that the United Kingdom recently ended the security charter review between the old allies.

They said that there is “clear and consistent” support for the deal through the “full political spectrum” in the United States, adding that Australia is looking to “continue our close cooperation with the Trump administration in this historic project.”

A UK defense spokesman told the BBC that it is understood “for a new administration to look at the deal,” just as the United Kingdom did last year. ”

“A security partnership with two of our closest allies,” said a spokesman for Aukus, and “one of the most important partnerships of strategic importance in decades, supports peace and security in the Pacific and Atlantic Euro.”

Jennifer Cavanag told a priority of Thinktank America, BBC that the United States was “completely right to take another look at this deal” as its submarine capabilities had already spanned.

“The United States cannot fulfill its request for these nuclear energy submarines,” she said.

She said that the other concern that the United States might face is whether Australia will use the submarines they buy the way the United States wants. Especially if the conflict erupted on Taiwan.

Dr. Cavanag said that the review may see that the security agreement has turned its focus away from providing submarines to share other long -range weapons technology.

However, if the United States will come out of the deal, China is “celebrating” because it has long criticized the deal.

For Australia, the deal is a great promotion of its military capabilities. The country becomes only the second after the UK to receive nuclear payment technology in Washington.

These submarines will be able to work more and faster than the current diesel engine fleet in the country, and Australia will also be able to carry out long -term strikes against enemies for the first time.

It is a big deal for the United States to exchange the so -called “crown jewels” in defense technology.

But the historical armament of Australia was seen by Washington and Downing Street as necessary to preserve peace in a region that is not the same.

From 2027, the agreement will allow both the United States and the United Kingdom to prepare a small number of nuclear submarines in Perth, West Australia.

Canberra will also buy three Virginia-used submarines from the United States on a date that has not yet been determined in the early thirties-with options to buy two others.

Next, the plan is to design and build a new nuclear -powered submarine model for the UK and the Australian Navy.

This craft of attack will be built in Britain and Australia for a British design, but the use of technology from all three countries.

The security alliance has repeatedly caused criticism from China, as Beijing Foreign Ministry has said it has risked the creation of the arms race.

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