International

Australia PM Confident: AUKUS Safe Under Any U.S. Leader

Published

3 months ago

Sep 21, 2024.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed confidence that the AUKUS defense pact will have continued support from any future U.S. administration, following discussions with President Joe Biden on Saturday.

Speaking from Philadelphia, Albanese stated, “There is no question in my mind that AUKUS will continue to have the support of any future U.S. administration.”

As Biden prepares to leave office after the upcoming November 5 election—where either Vice President Kamala Harris or Republican candidate Donald Trump will take the helm—the U.S., Australia’s closest security ally, remains pivotal in the AUKUS alliance.

Trump has indicated a more confrontational stance toward China and has questioned traditional U.S. alliances, but Albanese remains confident in the pact’s durability.

Formed in 2021, AUKUS addresses growing concerns over China’s expanding influence.

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It is designed to provide Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines and advanced weapons, including hypersonic missiles.

Albanese is currently in the U.S. for the Quad Leaders Summit, where discussions are expected to focus on tensions between China and its neighbors in the South China Sea.

Before the summit, Albanese met with Biden in Delaware to discuss defense and security cooperation, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.

In a statement, Albanese’s office highlighted the importance of the AUKUS partnership, noting the strong, ongoing bipartisan support for the alliance.

The statement also emphasized significant progress in enabling Australia to operate its own fleet of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines by the early 2030s.

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