The Trump administration has launched a review into the AUKUS security deal with Australia and the UK.
The review, announced overnight on Thursday, will be spearheaded by Elbridge Colby, the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and a known skeptic who previously branded the pact ‘crazy’.
A US defence official told Daily Mail Australia the review aims to ensure AUKUS aligns with President Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ priorities.
‘As Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has made clear, this means ensuring the highest readiness of our service members, that allies step up fully to do their part for collective defence, and that the defence industrial base is meeting our needs,’ the official said.
‘This review will ensure the initiative meets these common sense, America First criteria.’
It comes almost two weeks after Mr Hegseth urged Australian counterpart Richard Marles to increase military spending.
Australia’s total defence spend in 2024-25 was about $53.94billion, or 2 per cent of GDP. This is set to increase to 2.33 per cent by 2033-34 – but the US wants the number to be at least 3 per cent.
The Trump Administration will be reviewing the A$368billion security pact with the UK and Australia to make sure it meets the United States’ needs
US Congressman Joe Courtney has encouraged a review of the deal but warned that ditching the pact would cause lasting harm (stock image)
The AUKUS pact, signed in 2021 under former President Joe Biden, is designed to counter China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.
It is anticipated to cost anywhere from $268billion to $368billion over the next 30 years, extending to quantum computing, hypersonic missiles and artificial intelligence.
Australia will invest almost $5billion in America’s submarine industry in exchange for the opportunity to purchase several Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines.
It marks the biggest defence investment in Australian history with the annual cost amounting to 0.15 per cent of GDP until the mid-2050s.
Head of the US Seapower Subcommittee, Congressman Joe Courtney has spoken up to encourage Donald Trump’s government not to abandon the pact.
‘The new administration certainly has the right to review the trilateral AUKUS mission,’ he said.
‘But as the recent UK government’s defence review determined, this is a defence alliance that is overwhelmingly in the best interest of all three AUKUS nations, as well as the Indo-Pacific region as a whole.
‘To abandon AUKUS – which is already well underway – would cause lasting harm to our nation’s standing with close allies and certainly be met with great rejoicing in Beijing.
The Albanese Government was recently encouraged by US Defence Secretary Hegseth to ramp up its defence spending to at least 3 per cent of GDP
‘The AUKUS mission also brings in over $3 billion in foreign investments from Australia – with $500 million already in hand – to redouble our efforts to increase shipbuilding capacity,’ he said.
‘That historic investment directly aligns with President Trump’s rightful goal to build more ships “very fast, very soon,” and restore America’s maritime dominance.
‘To walk away from all the sunk costs invested by our two closest allies – Australia and the United Kingdom – will have far-reaching ramifications on our trustworthiness on the global stage and is a direct contradiction to the administration’s ‘America First, but not alone’ goal of countering aggression from China, Russia, and other adversaries.’
In February, Donald Trump appeared to be unaware of the military pact with Australia and the US when he was questioned about the deal.
Asked by a British reporter if he would be discussing AUKUS with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a meeting at the White House, the bemused president responded ‘What does that mean?’
When the reporter explained it was a three-way defence technology partnership between the US, the UK and Australia, Trump conceded it was on the agenda.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be attending the G7 Summit next week in Canada, during which he is expected to meet with Donald Trump.
New US trade tariffs will be at the centre of discussions at the international forum, with Australia trying to carve out an exemption for its exports, such as steel and beef.
Australia had been slapped with a 10 per cent tariff on all exports to the US, with steel and aluminium products having a 50 per cent tariff.
Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull took to social media to highlight the lack of scrutiny of the AUKUS deal in Canberra.
‘The UK is conducting a review of AUKUS. The US DoD is conducting a review of AUKUS,’ he said on social media.
‘But Australia, which has the most at stake, has no review. Our Parliament to date has been the least curious and least informed. Time to wake up?’
