Doubts over Australia’s submarine deal with the US have been hosed down by the deputy prime minister.
Richard Marles again doused concerns about the future of the three-nation pact also involving the United Kingdom, as the Trump administration reviews AUKUS.
The Pentagon is considering whether the agreement aligns with Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda.
Mr Marles on Saturday drew a parallel to Australia’s own defence reviews that occur with changes in government, suggesting similar evaluations are a normal part of alliances.
His comments follow the arrival of the USS America in Sydney on a goodwill visit on Saturday.
“When we came to government, we did a review of our defence posture … AUKUS was a key part of that, just as the British did when the new British Labor government came into power in July last year,” Mr Marles told reporters in Geelong.
“It is a very natural thing for an incoming government to engage in a review of this kind. It is actually exactly what we did. That’s what the Trump administration are doing, we welcome it and we’ll engage with it.”
Opposition Defence spokesman Angus Taylor, who was on the USS America as it made its way though the Sydney Heads, also stressed the critical nature of the US alliance.
However he additionally emphasised the importance of adequate funding to support the objectives of the AUKUS.
“We call on the government to make sure they engage with the United States to ensure AUKUS is successful into the future,” Mr Taylor said.
The AUKUS pact is aimed at countering China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.
A key component of the pact is the provision for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, a capability deemed essential by the government for bolstering national security.
Under the $368 billion submarine program, Australia is set to acquire at least three nuclear-powered Virginia-class subs from the US in the early 2030s before a new fleet is built for delivery from the 2040s.
Australia has already demonstrated its commitment to the AUKUS partnership, paying almost $800 million to the US in February – the first of a number of payments – to help boost its submarine production.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese left Australia on Friday for the G7 summit in Canada but it is unclear if he will be able to secure a meeting with President Trump while there.
Mr Albanese previously rebuffed calls from the US for Australia to lift its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP.
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