The strategic importance of the AUKUS agreement is recognized by the Trump administration, according to Penny Wong, despite a snap Pentagon review raising doubts about the pact’s future.
During discussions with foreign ministers of the Quad nations in Washington D.C., Australia’s foreign affairs minister stated that Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, was informed of Australia’s position on the need for the agreement to proceed, but no firm guarantees were given.
The AUKUS deal involves sharing nuclear-powered submarine technology between Australia, the U.S., and the U.K. for approximately A$350 billion. The federal government has already made payments totaling A$800 million.
Although led by an AUKUS skeptic, US Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby, Wong expressed confidence that the partnership would “last decades” despite the review.
She emphasized the understanding of the importance of AUKUS by both the U.S. and the U.K., stating that reviewing the agreement is expected as a new administration engages in assessments.
Wong acknowledged that Labor is under pressure from Donald Trump and the U.S. defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, to increase Australia’s defense spending, but the federal government is resistant to such demands.
The Quad talks involved ministers from Japan and India, as Australia stands to benefit from the demand for critical minerals from those countries, contributing to efforts to secure supply chains independent of China’s dominance.
Marco Rubio stressed the U.S.’s desire to diversify global supplies and processing, emphasizing the critical nature of reliable global supply chains for various technologies and industries.
Wong highlighted progress on securing supply chains for critical minerals, such as the 36 out of 50 that Australia possesses, as part of efforts to achieve “concrete outcomes” for a stable and peaceful Indo-Pacific region.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/02/aukus-penny-wong-marco-rubio-quad-meeting
