Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, right, welcomes Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles, left, before the start of their meeting at the Pentagon on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
The three nations also agreed to share technology in cyber and quantum capabilities, AI, hypersonics and deep sea radar.
In a confirmation hearing in March, Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby seemed leery of offering Australia nuclear-powered submarines while the U.S. struggles to produce enough for itself.
"If we can produce the attack submarines in sufficient number and sufficient speed, then great. But if we can’t, that becomes a very difficult problem because we don’t want our servicemen and women to be in a weaker position," Colby said.
Australia plans to increase its defense spending to 2.4% by the mid-2030s, but the U.S. is pushing it to boost that figure much faster.
In a recent meeting in Singapore with Australian defense minister Richard Marles, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Marles the U.S. wants to see Australia spend 3.5% on defense.
Admiral Sam Paparo, head of Indo-Pacific Command, voiced support for the AUKUS initiative in April.
The AUKUS deal says Australia will purchase two Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines like the one above by 2032. (Paul Hennessy/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
However, DeLauro was not satisfied, demanding detailed data to back up that claim.
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"We do not have any information or data that can substantiate what you’re saying," she shot back. "Give us the details."
"We've had difficulty with the prior administration, and I don't mind calling them out. What is your plan for the future?"
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