Los Angeles | Australia’s $300 billion-plus plans to build and acquire nuclear submarines to protect against Chinese military action in the Indo-Pacific are in jeopardy after the United States launched a review into the AUKUS defence pact.

The Pentagon said on Wednesday (Thursday AEST) the review was aimed at ensuring the military pact between Australia, the US and Britain best served the interests of the United States. Under-Secretary of Defence for Policy Elbridge Colby, a sceptic of AUKUS, will reportedly lead the probe weighing up America’s ongoing contribution.