Where does the Aukus security pact stand under Trump?

In an effort to counter China’s military expansion in the Indo-Pacific region, Australia, the United Kingdom and the US signed a defence accord known as Aukus in 2021.

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Under the Aukus pact, the US will sell Australia three of its nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarines (like the one pictured).

(PHOTO: REUTERS)

Central to the agreement is a controversial project — expected to cost hundreds of billions of dollars — to help Australia develop a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines over a 30-year period.

The future of the Biden-era security agreement has been uncertain ever since US President Donald Trump returned to office, especially after his administration commissioned a review of Aukus in June.

But on Oct 20, during a meeting with Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Mr Trump declared “full steam ahead”, signalling his support for maintaining the pact and potentially even accelerating it.

The possibilities of the Aukus agreement have also led Japan, South Korea and New Zealand to publicly express interest in joining.

In an unreleased assessment to Congress, the US State Department said that Japan would be a “capable participant” in the partnership.

The most eye-catching part of the Aukus pact is the agreement to help Australia acquire a fleet of eight nuclear-powered submarines.

At the moment, only six nations — the US, Britain, France, China, Russia and India — have the technology to deploy and operate nuclear-powered subs.

Such vessels are faster than their diesel-electric counterparts, can stay submerged for several months and have space for more weapons, equipment and supplies.

The plan is for the US to sell Australia three of its nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarines.

Two subs from the existing fleet are meant to be transferred in 2032 and 2035, and the third is to be newly built and delivered in fiscal year 2038.

In addition, Australia and Britain together are to design and build a next-generation submarine partly using American technology, due to be completed in the 2040s.