A group of bipartisan lawmakers sent a Monday letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressing support for the trilateral security partnership known as “AUKUS” amid a 30 day review from the Department of Defense (DOD).
Under the deal, the United States is providing nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy while partnering with the United Kingdom to expand cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and under sea capabilities.
The DOD evaluation is being led by Undersecretary of the Defense Elbridge Colby who could advise President Trump to pull out of the deal in turn weakening Australia’s by preventing the sale of three U.S. submarines.
“Since AUKUS was announced, support among Congress – and partners in all three nations – has grown immensely and we have worked quickly to recognize AUKUS’ mission to deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific region,” lawmakers wrote in their letter signed by Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Rep. Trent Kelly (R-Miss.).
Currently, Australian sailors and operators are joint-crewing U.S. Virginia class submarines while joint U.S.-Australian submarine repair work is happening in Guam and Hawaii, according to the members of Congress.
They’ve encouraged the Trump administration to keep charting a course that would allow for the sale of three Virginia-class submarines in 2032, 2035, and 2038 as domestic ship production returns to pre-COVID levels.
“Additional shipyards in Alabama, Pennsylvania, Florida, and South Carolina have ramped up steel fabrication within the last few years, driving the growth in manhours and tonnage output,” lawmakers wrote.
However, the final decision rests with Trump who will ultimately decide whether the administration can sell the submarines without negatively impacting the U.S. Navy.
Negating the transaction would force Australia to up its defense spending levels, which is an initiative the president has prioritized for U.S. partners and allies, to include NATO member nations.
