Coalition calls on PM to ‘urgently seek’ Trump meeting after AUKUS review
Australia’s top diplomat in the US is in Canberra as a major defence pact between the two nations risks becoming a casualty in Donald Trump’s “America First agenda”.
World
Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Australia’s top diplomat in the US, Kevin Rudd, is in Canberra amid concerns Australia’s longstanding military alliance with Washington is waning and a hoped-for meeting between the two leaders could be canned completely.
Anthony Albanese will stop in the US on his way to the G7 in Canada this weekend.
It is common for ambassadors to accompany prime ministers when visiting the country they are posted to.
But Mr Rudd’s visit home comes after the US Department of Defence launched a review into AUKUS, sparking doubt the $368bn defence project will materialise.
He has faced questions about his suitability to serve as Australia’s envoy in Washington due to past criticisms of Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, the Coalition has demanded the Prime Minister “urgently seek a direct meeting” with the US President to firm up Mr Trump’s support for AUKUS.
Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor said on Thursday the US move was “deeply concerning and adds to a growing list of issues in Australia’s relationship with the United States”.
“Reports today that Mr Albanese’s scheduled meeting with the US President are in limbo are troublesome,” Mr Taylor said.
“You don’t project strength by undermining alliances.
“Australia must show it’s serious, consistent, and committed.
“If this review has been triggered by the Albanese government’s refusal to commit to increased defence spending and its sanctioning of two Israeli ministers, then the government has very serious questions to answer about how it is managing our most critical allies.”
NewsWire understands Mr Albanese was set to meet Mr Trump on the sidelines of the upcoming G7.
But US State Department sources said a time had not been set and the situation was “fluid”.
The US-Australia relationship has gone from strength to strength. Great to celebrate its bright future with @LogCabinGOP. pic.twitter.com/bWpdQdpx3R
— Kevin Rudd AC (@AmboRudd) June 11, 2025
Following the review’s announcement, Mr Rudd posted a video of himself praising the Australia-US alliance at an event with conservatives.
“As the Australian government, we’ve worked closely with 15 American presidents, Republican and Democrat … in the post-war period,” he told attendees.
“Fifteen Australian prime ministers, Labor and conservative, and I’ve been one of them.
“And the relationship gets closer and closer and closer.
“Of course, we got a bunch of common values and a common interest, which unite us now.”
Over the past decade, the former Labor prime minister has called Mr Trump a “village idiot”, “nuts”, the “most destructive president in history” and a “traitor to the West”.
Mr Trump has in turn called Mr Rudd “nasty” and “not the brightest bulb”.
Despite the trading of verbal barbs, Mr Rudd has the firm backing of Labor, with the Albanese government crediting him with much of the diplomatic legwork around AUKUS.
‘America First’
Canberra has already spent billions laying the groundwork to acquire and build nuclear-powered submarines and train personnel to crew them under AUKUS.
Scrapping it would be a major blow to Australia’s long-term defence strategy.
Confirming the review, US defence officials said it was about “ensuring the highest readiness of our service members”.
“The Department is reviewing AUKUS as part of ensuring that this initiative of the previous Administration is aligned with the President’s America First agenda,” they said.
“As Secretary Hegseth has made clear, this means ensuring the highest readiness of our service members, that allies step up fully to do their part for collective defence, and that the defence industrial base is meeting our needs.
“This review will ensure the initiative meets these commonsense America First criteria.”
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles on Thursday downplayed the review, saying it was “natural that the (Trump) administration would want to examine this major undertaking”.
“We are committed to AUKUS and we look forward to working closely with the US on the review,” he said.
“The United States advised Australia and the UK of the review.
“It is natural that the (Trump) administration would want to examine this major undertaking including progress and delivery, just as the UK government recently concluded an AUKUS review and reaffirmed its support including through the appointment of Sir Stephen Lovegrove as its AUKUS adviser.
“All three countries are committed to ensuring AUKUS meets national and trilateral objectives.”
Mr Marles, who also holds the defence portfolio, stressed that AUKUS would “grow both US and Australian defence industry as well as generating thousands of new manufacturing jobs”.
“Our engagement with the Trump administration and across the full political spectrum in the United States has shown clear and consistent support for AUKUS,” he said.
“We look forward to continuing our close co-operation with the Trump administration on this historic project.”
The review is led by top Pentagon adviser and AUKUS sceptic Elbridge Colby.
Mr Colby has criticised Australia for not splashing enough cash to counter China.
“The main concern the United States should press with Australia, consistent with the President’s approach, is higher defence spending,” Mr Colby said in written answers to the committee confirming his appointment in March.
“Australia is currently well below the 3 per cent level advocated for NATO, by NATO Secretary General (Mark) Rutte, and Canberra faces a far more powerful challenge in China.”
Mr Albanese pushed back at the time, describing the Australia-US alliance as “secure”.
But US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth renewed Washington’s call for Canberra to hike defence spending earlier this month amid an “imminent” threat from China.
Mr Hegseth told Mr Marles that Australia should be spending 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence.
Both Mr Marles and Mr Albanese have repeatedly rejected the request, saying Australia would determine its own national interest.
In the US Democratic congressman Joe Courtney, co-chair of the Congressional AUKUS Working Group, has slammed the review.
Taking to social media, Mr Courtney said the collapse of the pact would spark “rejoice in Beijing”.
“The Trump administration has the right to review AUKUS, but just like the UK’s own review found, AUKUS is overwhelmingly in the interest of all 3 nations and the entire Indo-Pacific,” he said.
“Abandoning AUKUS would cause lasting harm to our standing with close allies and rejoice in Beijing.”
The Trump administration has the right to review AUKUS, but just like the UK’s own review found, AUKUS is overwhelmingly in the interest of all 3 nations and the entire Indo-Pacific. Abandoning AUKUS would cause lasting harm to our standing with close allies and rejoice in… https://t.co/2xRaHNd7q4
— Rep. Joe Courtney (@RepJoeCourtney) June 11, 2025
‘Unravelling’
AUKUS critics have seized on the review, with the Greens declaring it proof the multi-decade defence strategy was “unravelling”.
They said it was “time Australia abandoned ship before billions more are squandered”.
“Donald Trump is erratic, reckless and careless of America’s allies and alliances but he does have one fairly constant trait, he puts US interests first and allies last,” Greens defence spokesman David Shoebridge said in a statement.
“The USA is reviewing whether to scrap AUKUS while Australia has just handed the US an $800 million AUKUS tribute payment.
“We’re locked into a $375b deal that our ‘partner’ might walk away from.
“It’s time for parliament to launch a full inquiry into this dud deal, and allow critics of AUKUS a seat at the table, not just a nodding bunch of Labor and Coalition members.”
Senator Shoebridge said it treated Australia as a “junior partner” and not an “equal ally”.
“The Australian public deserves an urgent inquiry into AUKUS before Labor wastes more billions on submarines we will never see,” he said.
“It’s pretty clear what any US review into AUKUS will say, the US does not have any spare submarines to give to Australia.”
Mr Trump can renege on Washington’s AUKUS commitments if it puts US national security at risk.
There have been warnings the US could face a nuclear submarine shortage early next decade – the same time it has committed to transferring the first of three submarines to Australia.
Under AUKUS, Australia is set to get three Virginia-class submarines from the US and build five more jointly designed nuclear-powered boats.
Originally published as Coalition calls on PM to ‘urgently seek’ Trump meeting after AUKUS review
‘Couldn’t care less’: Trump’s lavish night out amid LA chaos
A tuxedo-wearing Donald Trump and Melania Trump were booed as they attended the opening night of Les Misérables as violent protests raged across the US.
Police chief shoots down brazen Trump claim
The LAPD Chief has spectacularly shot down Donald Trump’s claim that the cops were asking for federal help. Follow our live coverage.