The US Department of Defense («Pentagon») has confirmed Washington's commitment to the «Aukus» security agreement, which was signed in 2021 with Canberra and London. The agreement, in particular, provides for the sale of three US nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarines to Australia within 15 years. Washington signed the agreement under former President Joe Biden with the aim of containing China's growing influence in the Pacific. However, the Trump administration requested a review of the agreement in June last year, which raised concerns in Australia. After a five-month review, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced in a statement that the agreement «is consistent with President Trump's (America First) policy». The statement said: «In accordance with President Trump's direction to advance «Aukus» with speed, the review identified opportunities to launch «Aukus» on the strongest possible footing». Joe Courtney, a congressman for Connecticut and the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee's seapower subcommittee, said the review proved that «the framework (for the agreement) aligns with our national security interests». He added in a statement, «The 2021 «Aukus» agreement continues to endure after three government changes in the three nations and remains strong», but the agreement poses major technical challenges. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth acknowledged a «gap» between current production capacity and the required capabilities to complete submarine construction in the US on schedule. However, Courtney believes that «the sale of three Virginia-class submarines starting in 2032 is not in question», noting that Congress will support the US shipyards tasked with this mission. In Canberra, Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy expressed satisfaction with the findings of the US review. He said, «We will work constructively with its findings and recommendations on how to further improve «Aukus»», noting that it is up to Washington to decide whether to release the document. The submarine deal is at the heart of Australia's strategy and a top priority for improving its ability to strike at long range in the Pacific, especially against China. The deal's cost for Canberra is about $235 billion over the next 30 years, and it also includes supplying it with a fleet of nuclear-powered stealth submarines from 2040, as well as the technology to build its own submarines in the future. The agreement's signing in 2021 caused a major rift with France, when Canberra at the time canceled a multi-billion dollar deal to buy a fleet of conventional diesel-powered submarines from Paris and instead signed the «Aukus» agreement.
