Washington [US], June 12: A US defense official said the Trump administration has officially launched a review of the AUKUS (US-UK-Australia) trilateral security partnership treaty.
"We are reviewing AUKUS ... to ensure the previous administration's initiative is consistent with President Trump's America First agenda," a US official was quoted as saying by the Financial Times on June 12.
"Any changes in the administration's approach to AUKUS will be communicated through official channels as necessary," the US official added.
Commenting again, a spokesman for Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said on June 12 that the government will work closely with the US to conduct a formal review of the AUKUS defense treaty.
"It is natural that the government would want to review this important project, including its progress and implementation," said a spokesman for Mr Marles. "AUKUS will grow both the US and Australian defence industries and create thousands of new manufacturing jobs ," the Australian official said.
Meanwhile, a UK government spokesperson called AUKUS "one of the most important strategic partnerships in decades", creating "jobs and economic growth for communities in all three countries".
"It is understandable why the new administration would want to review its approach to such a major partnership, as the UK did last year, adding that the UK will continue to work closely with the US and Australia to maximise the benefits and opportunities of AUKUS," Reuters quoted a British government spokesman as saying.
AUKUS is a treaty announced by former US President Joe Biden and the leaders of the UK and Australia in 2021 with the initial goal of allowing Australia to own nuclear-powered submarines . Under the agreement, Australia will receive up to five US Virginia-class submarines from 2032. After that, the UK and Australia will jointly design and build a new class of submarines with US support.
Before then, the US and UK will begin rotating their submarines from an Australian naval base in Western Australia in 2027.
The White House has yet to make an official statement. However, a US official told Reuters that the Trump administration "regularly reviews foreign agreements to ensure they are in the interests of the American people, especially those that stem from the foreign policy of former President Biden."
"AUKUS plays a vital role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific , and the administration should work to strengthen AUKUS and the US submarine industrial base," said US Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
