Australian peace advocacy group IPAN has urged the Australian Government to review the AUKUS pact after news that the Pentagon is conducting an investigation into the defense agreement.
The AUKUS submarine defense deal between America, the UK and Australia - worth a whopping $268-$368 billion between now and the mid-2050s - is being looked at by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to ensure compliance with the new Trump administration's “America first” agenda.
“The Department is reviewing AUKUS as part of ensuring that this initiative of the previous administration is aligned with the President’s America first agenda,” a DOD spokesman wrote.
“This review will ensure that the initiative meets those common sense America first criteria.”
Speaking to ABC, Greens leader David Shoebridge repeated calls for an inquiry, saying "every rational observer" would conclude that AUKUS was "sinking".
Could the Trump administration be changing the goal posts of the tri-lateral multi-billion defense pact? Far from likely, says the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI).
“Washington’s routine stocktake changes nothing fundamental: the risks are unchanged and the safeguards Australia has put in place remain fit for purpose,” says ASPI.
“Far likelier, the new Trump administration has folded AUKUS into its accelerated National Defence Strategy rewrite, scheduled for release in August - the first since the partnership’s AUKUS optimal pathway was outlined in 2023.
“Notably, the US Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Elbridge Colby, is steering both the AUKUS review and the National Defence Strategy rewrite.”
Concerns from the broader Australia community are mounting, says IPAN, with declining support among the population for pouring ~$35 million a day every day for 30 years into AUKUS.
A Guardian poll conducted after Donald Trump won the U.S. election last year showed 48% of Australians wanted a review of AUKUS, adding to prominent voices from academia, former military personnel and former politicians.
“With the US being able to simply walk away from the AUKUS deal, if they cannot produce sufficient submarines, there is the very real possibility that Australia will end up with no subs at all – but still having to pay billions of dollars”, IPAN spokesperson Major Cameron Leckie (ret.) said.
“Expenditure on AUKUS is not for the defence of our territory, but is part of preparations for Australia to participate in a U.S. war against China, despite there being no actual evidence that China presents a military threat to Australia.
“What we need is for Australia to adopt an independent, peace-promoting foreign policy in the interests of genuine security for the Australian people.
“Continued trade and pursuit of mutually beneficial relations in our region offers our best security.”
Macquarie University’s Dr Vince Scappatura warned that if a war did break out, the extensive American warfighting presence on Australian territory would all become potential military targets for enemies of the U.S.
“Recent messaging from the U.S. indicating its readiness to ‘fight and win decisively’ a war with China over Taiwan is deeply concerning”, Dr Scappatura warned.
“Australia must not be drawn into preparations for, or involvement in, such a conflict.”
The risk of Australia being drawn into a conflict via its support of the U.S. is being given further strength in real time, with President Trump pulling America into a now seriously escalating conflict with Iran.
Ominously, the U.S. bunker-bustered three of Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities just yesterday, and there are three U.S. aircraft carrier battle groups currently circling the region.
