Analysis

AUKUS mugged by ugly industrial reality

Congressional wrangling over the Pentagon’s budget sends a worrying message over AUKUS and highlights an ugly industrial reality.

Andrew TillettForeign affairs, defence correspondent

Mar 13, 2024 – 10.55am

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In a pre-AUKUS world, construction of the first French-designed submarine for Australia would have started in Adelaide this year.

Instead, as we mark the first anniversary of the AUKUS “optimal pathway”, that most unpredictable of beasts – American politics – has triggered a fresh wave of anxiety over Australia’s ambitions to acquire nuclear-powered submarines with the help of the US and the UK.

Andrew Tillett writes on politics, foreign affairs, defence and security from the Canberra press gallery.