AUKUS "Full Speed Ahead" at US-Australia Ministerial Meeting, No Mention of China

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held the annual 2+2 ministerial talks with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles in Washington on Monday.

Both sides reaffirmed before the meeting that the AUKUS security agreement is "full speed ahead," and stated that cooperation will be expanded and deepened in the coming months. Although none of the four ministers explicitly mentioned China, the situation in the Indo-Pacific will be the background theme for external focus. In the afternoon, Rubio will also meet with British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, completing high-level coordination among the three AUKUS countries in Washington on the same day.

Rubio said at a press conference that President Trump has officially approved the continuation of the AUKUS arrangements established during the Biden administration, and the review aims to strengthen the agreement's framework. He said, "Under the President's instructions, AUKUS is full speed ahead."

He also described the U.S.-Australia alliance as having "great momentum" and emphasized that cooperation between the two countries in defense industry, production capacity, and military deployment is continuously expanding. Hegseth added that Australia is about to add $1 billion to help enhance U.S. submarine production capacity, and said, "We are strengthening AUKUS so that it benefits the United States, Australia, and Britain."

The AUKUS security agreement was announced in 2021, consisting of the three member states of the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, sharing advanced defense technology and intelligence. This move is seen as a response to China's growing influence. Through the agreement, the United States helped Australia build its first nuclear-powered submarine. Additionally, the agreement covers cooperation in artificial intelligence, quantum technology, and cybersecurity.

After Trump took office, he demanded a review of the overall cooperation framework, causing concerns in London and Canberra. In the context of the Trump administration constantly demanding allies to increase military budgets and "take responsibility for themselves," worries about the possible cancellation of the AUKUS agreement spread widely.

Last week, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell revealed that the AUKUS review "found an opportunity to place AUKUS on the strongest foundation."

Rubio's meeting with the British foreign secretary later on Monday allowed the three AUKUS countries to coordinate on the same day, which is seen as a symbol that the agreement will continue to progress, or even be enhanced, under Trump's administration.

In her pre-meeting remarks, Wong emphasized twice: "We are moving forward at full speed." She said that the U.S.-Australia alliance has a long history, and AUKUS is currently central to ensuring the security of both sides and the Indo-Pacific. She mentioned that U.S.-Australia cooperation includes critical minerals, technology investment, and defense deployment, and called AUKUS a "three-way win."

Marles also said that Australia is proceeding according to plan toward establishing a "Western Rotational Submarine Force" by 2027. He revealed that U.S. nuclear-powered submarines have frequently visited Australia recently and mentioned that the USS Vermont completed the most in-depth maintenance of a U.S. nuclear submarine overseas in Australia, symbolizing significant progress in Australia's ability to develop its own future nuclear-powered submarine operations.

Aside from submarine cooperation, supply chain security was also a focus of this meeting. Rubio pointed out that critical minerals and related supply chains are crucial for the defense capabilities and technology industries of both countries. "We must have reliable, diverse, and not concentrated in a single region supply chains, to prevent them from being used as leverage against us or our allies."

In October, Trump signed a key mineral framework agreement with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House. Wong pointed out that critical mineral cooperation has become one of the three core elements of Australia-U.S. strategic collaboration along with AUKUS.

Although the senior officials did not mention China during the meeting, the international community generally believes that Indo-Pacific security, the South China Sea situation, and the Taiwan Strait situation are among the key focuses of AUKUS and this meeting.

However, Hegseth had previously told his Australian counterparts that he hopes Australia would significantly increase its defense budget. Meanwhile, the recent new U.S. National Security Strategy clearly states that the United States will maintain a firm stance on "increasing defense spending" in its interactions with Australia.

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1851014660213827/

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