The future of the Aukus nuclear submarine deal may be delayed for months, as a snap review ordered by the Trump administration is expected to extend well beyond its initial 30-day timeframe. The $360 billion agreement between Australia, the UK, and the US is under scrutiny led by Elbridge Colby, the undersecretary of defence and known Aukus sceptic.
Sir Stephen Lovegrove, the UK’s special envoy for Aukus, said both Australia and the UK would contribute to the Pentagon assessment but warned there was “a way to go” before advice is settled. The start date of the review remains unclear, and a Pentagon spokesperson said there is no public timeline for completion. Labor sources in Australia agree the review is unlikely to be finished for months.
Speaking in Australia, Lovegrove called for strong public advocacy for Aukus and suggested that US President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appoint their own representatives to champion the deal. He noted that Aukus “needs constant love and attention” and will evolve over time.
An Australian defence department spokesperson described the review as “natural” and confirmed engagement with Colby. Foreign Minister Penny Wong, attending ASEAN talks in Malaysia, said Aukus would transparently contribute to collective deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. The review could recommend changes rather than scrapping the deal, such as requiring Australia to pay more to support US shipbuilding or guarantee submarine commitments in a conflict with China.
The uncertainty comes ahead of Albanese’s visit to China and amid concerns about Trump’s trade policies. The White House has called for Australia to lift defence spending to at least 3.5% of GDP.
