It’s full steam ahead for Australia on its plans for home-built nuclear-powered submarines, Defence Minister Richard Marles says.
His reaffirmation follows the release of a US congressional research paper that flags the possibility that Australia may not receive any Virginia-class nuclear submarines.
In a doorstep interview with journalists at Federal Parliament in Canberra today (February 5), Marles says they are still going full steam on AUKUS.
“We’ve been working very closely with our partners in the US in respect of AUKUS … (US) President (Donald) Trump himself has made clear that we are full steam ahead in respect of that,” he says.
“We are working at a pace in relation to all of this; that includes the transfer of the Virginias.
“Right now, we’re very focused on making sure that HMAS Stirling in Rockingham is ready for the establishment of the submarine rotational force.”
Marles also reminded journalists of a December meeting held with US and UK defence officials in Washington DC in which they discussed accelerating AUKUS pillars 1 and 2 projects.
A statement from that meeting says Australia will soon pay another billion dollars to the US for AUKUS submarines, having already paid A$1.4 billion.
MAYBE NOT FULL STEAM, SAYS PAPER
The policy research arm of US Congress floats two alternative options to the current AUKUS Pillar 1 deal that would block the sale of Virginia submarines to Australia.
Option one would see the US not sell any Virginia submarines to Australia but share their nuclear and submarine technology to allow Australia to build their own boats; US submarines would carry out Australian missions until Australia’s subs are deployed.
A second option would block the sale and Australian construction of such subs with the US to permanently conduct Australian missions.
Under the three scenarios (including the current Pillar 1), the stationing of US and UK vessels and personnel in WA will continue.
Under a proposed US-Australia ‘military division of labour’ with the US Navy carrying out Australian missions, Australia would be expected to buy US non-submarine weapons like long-range strike aircraft (i.e. B-21 bomber), missiles, drones and an anti-missile/drone shield.
The paper notes that the US could share capabilities such as aircraft carrier, battleships, nuclear weapons and defence satellites.
It noted that the US has shared its nuclear power technology only with the UK; it turned down requests during the Cold Way from Italy, France, Netherlands, Japan, Canada and Australia previously.
OTHER AUKUS NEWS: UK parliament reviews deal
