Trump ‘supportive’ of AUKUS after Australian government pays US $798m
President Donald Trump has revealed where he stands on a major partnership with Australia after the Albanese government delivered a $798m payment.
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US President Donald Trump has flagged his support for AUKUS after the Australian government paid the US $798m as part of the deal.
Defence Minister Richard Marles travelled to the US to meet with his American counterpart, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, in part to firm up a commitment from the new Trump administration for the complex defence deal, which would see Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines from the US.
Mr Hegseth said President Trump supported AUKUS after the Albanese government delivered a $798m payment from a $4.78bn commitment to help the US with submarine manufacturing.
“The President is very aware, supportive of AUKUS, recognises the importance of the defence industrial base, which the Deputy Prime Minister pointed out the investment Australia is willing to make,” Mr Hegseth said at the meeting.
“It enhances our ability in the subterranean space, but also our allies and partners.
“This is not a mission, in the Indo-Pacific, that America can undertake by itself.
“It has to be robust allies and partners. Technology sharing and subs are a huge part of it.
“So he’s aware and appreciative for his support and leadership on that topic.”
He said the US hoped to deliver Australia’s first nuclear submarine on time, with Mr Trump “committed” to “cutting red tape”, investing in defence and standing by allies.
“I think that’s something that was missing in the last four years, that President Trump demonstrated – you’re going to have no worse enemy, and no better ally,” Mr Hegseth said.
“And that’s what he’s charged me with at the Defense Department, is when we make these strategic partnerships and we invest in them, and there’s skin in the game, as the Deputy Prime Minister pointed out, we’re going to do everything possible we can to help deliver on that.”
When asked if the US was building submarines quick enough, Mr Hegseth said they were “pleased with the progress” despite past “challenges”.
“There have been challenges there in the past, but it is, of course, why we see that part of getting this done is for Australia to make the contribution that we are to the American industrial base, which is measured in billions of dollars,” he said.
“As I say, the first payment of that has been made in the last week or so.
“But we are encouraged by the progress, there’s a way to go, but this is something that jointly we’re going to get done.
“It needs to be done from the perspective of both of our countries. It needs to be done in terms of the deterrence that represents in the Indo-Pacific and around the world.”
Mr Marles said the Australian government was “really pleased” with the $798m payment and that AUKUS was a powerful symbol of the two countries “working together”.
“It represents a very significant increase of the American footprint on the Australian continent, something we very much welcome,” Marles said.
“It represents an increase in Australian capability, through the acquisition of a nuclear‑powered submarine capability, but what comes with that is it also represents an increase in Australian defence spending.
“And we really understand the importance of building our capability, but in paying our way. That is a very important principle that we bring to bear.
“And one of the aspects of that is the contribution that we’re making to your industrial base, it’s billions of dollars...we’re really pleased that the first payment in respect of that, half a billion dollars, we’ve been able to make in the first couple of weeks of the Trump Administration.”
US Congressman and co-chair of the Friends of Australia Caucus Joe Courtney earlier said the payment “strengthened the ties of our two nations and the AUKUS agreement, ensuring the mission will endure and the US submarine industrial base can meet the demands of the security agreement”.
“At every step of the way Australia has demonstrated AUKUS is a true partnership that the US benefits from as much as our partners and allies in the region,” Mr Courtney said.
“I look forward to working with my counterparts on the Seapower Subcommittee to ensure this new investment is expeditiously made available to expand the supply chain, skill-up a talented workforce, and advance manufacturing technology.”
Mr Marles told Sky News he had a “very warm meeting” with Mr Hegseth.
“It is really clear that there is a focus on our region, our part of the world, in terms of the way in which America sees itself, in terms of expressing its leadership,” Mr Marles said.
“As part of this we talked about AUKUS and how fundamentally important it is in the contemporary expression of our alliance.
“AUKUS is playing a really important role, not only in terms of building Australian capability, building Australian capability in the provision of a long range nuclear powered submarine capability, but also building American force posture on the Australian continent, and this is a very important statement for our region.”
Mr Marles had stressed at the time of President Trump’s inauguration that AUKUS was “happening now”.
“We are continuing to build and invest in an Australian submarine industrial base capable of supporting our future nuclear-powered submarine fleet and underpinning a strong local economy over the coming decades,” Mr Marles said.
“This new AUKUS agreement now in effect will further bolster the strong continued progress the Australian government is making with AUKUS partners to deliver Australia this vital capability.”
Mr Marles and Mr Hegseth were also set to attend the Arlington National Cemetery to honour American service members and their families with a wreath.
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