‘Game of thrones’ over fate of AUKUS submarine deal
Donald Trump’s chief foreign affairs adviser has given a big update on AUKUS as the dysfunction in the White House is compared to Game of Thrones.
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US President Donald Trump’s chief foreign affairs adviser has reassured Australia there are “no plans” to scrap the AUKUS submarine deal as the dysfunction in the White House is compared to the TV series Game of Thrones.
United States Secretary of State Marc Rubio has met counterparts in Southeast Asia this week in his first visit to Asia since taking office.
Washington’s top diplomat joined foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Kuala Lumpur at a meeting that included Australia’s own Foreign Minister Penny Wong, China, the European Union, Japan, Russia, South Korea and others.
During that event he was asked about the AUKUS deal that the Biden administration forged and “questions among Asian-Pacific allies and partners about the US defence commitment here in Asia.”
“Well, look, anytime a new administration takes over, there’s a review of all policies,’’ Secretary of State Marc Rubio replied in relation to the AUKUS review.
“I mean, policies are reviewed; doesn’t necessarily mean you’re against it.
“We did a review at the State Department of our diplomatic presence around the world, because I wanted to know which consulates and embassies could be adjusted both in their size and in their presence, could we consolidate their presence.
“We did a review; we haven’t closed any embassies.”
The secretary of state stressed that just because the US is reviewing something “doesn’t mean you’re going to necessarily act on it.”
“But our policies on AUKUS have not changed,” he added.
‘Game of Thrones’ in White House
Mr Rubio’s remarks follow reports in Politico that the Pentagon’s announcement of the AUKUS review completely blindsided many key officials elsewhere in the US government.
The decision was described as a unilateral move by the Pentagon championed by its policy chief Elbridge Colby, an AUKUS sceptic.
The Politico report said that many officials at the State Department, the White House-based National Security Council, “weren’t told in advance that the review would happen or what its parameters were” and that counterparts in Canberra and London were also caught off guard.
One of the people familiar with the AUKUS situation told Politico that the broken process and was creating faultlines in the Trump administration.
“It’s Game of Thrones politics over there,” the person said.
Former Biden administration officials told Politico that the White House would have reacted if the Pentagon had launched an AUKUS review without telling other parts of the government.
One said senior White House aides would have “lost it.” Another said, “I can’t comprehend it.”
Brits insist there are benefits to the review
Meanwhile, Sir Stephen Lovegrove who conducted the UK’s own review of the AUKUS pact before being appointed as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s special envoy, has talked up the benefits of AUKUS.
“The US Navy is right behind it; I speak to them a lot. The State Department is very much behind it [and] many players in the Defence Department are completely engaged in AUKUS and everything it brings to the US,” he said.
“So I’m pretty comfortable that we’ll end up with the right answer for the US, Australia and the UK — this is a critical, critical program.”
It emerged this week that Australia could face demands for a public declaration or private guarantee that US-made nuclear submarines would be used in concert with the United States in any future conflict with China.
As the Prime Minister prepares for a six-day tour of China on Saturday there are fresh reports that the Trump administration could demand new conditions for providing nuclear submarines to Australia including even more cash.
It follows the Prime Minister’s speech over the weekend affirming support for the US alliance but cautioning that Australia will always pursue its own interests first.
The move comes as both Australia and the UK face pressure from the White House to lift military spending, demands that the Albanese government has resisted to date.
But Australia is now facing the prospect of a Trump administration review demanding it pay more for submarines under the $368 billion AUKUS pact and a guarantee the boats support the US in a conflict over Taiwan.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that big changes are expected as a result of the US review into the deal brokered by former leaders Joe Biden, Scott Morrison and Boris Johnson.
‘Pissing everyone off’
The man US President Donald Trump deputised to call an investigation into Australia’s nuclear submarine deal is also “pissing everyone off”, according to a fresh report in the United States.
The Pentagon’s Deputy Under Secretary of Defence for Policy, Elbridge Colby is one of the biggest AUKUS sceptics who has raised concerns about the $363 billion deal.
The US has launched a review of its multi-billion dollar submarine deal with the UK and Australia, insisting the security pact must fit its “America First” agenda.
But amid predictions that the US will drive a tougher bargain and demand even more cash from Australia for the submarine deal, reports have surfaced over divisions in the Trump administration.
Originally published as ‘Game of thrones’ over fate of AUKUS submarine deal
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