Aukus clears US review ahead of Australian PM’s Washington visit, report says

The Aukus deal has been cleared before Anthony Albanese’s visit to Washington next month, Japan’s Nikkei reported. Photo / Getty Images

Aukus has reportedly survived a United States review probing whether it aligns with President Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda.

The review, launched in June, is headed by Elbridge Colby – a known sceptic of the three-way defence pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the US.

NewsWire understands Canberra has not been officially notified of the audit’s conclusion, and a US defence official told the Australian Aukus was “still under review”.

But Japan’s Nikkei reported overnight that Colby had cleared the deal before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to Washington next month.

“Aukus is safe,” an official told the outlet.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles was hesitant to comment on the review’s status today, but insisted Australia would get its promised fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

“This is happening – that’s not in question,” Marles told the ABC.

“Aukus is the subject of a trilateral treaty between Australia, the US, and the UK.

“We’re confident about the deal and we’ve been saying that … all the way through.”

Indeed, the Albanese Government has consistently brushed off concerns the A$368 billion ($419b) deal could be scrapped, with Marles saying it was “natural” for the Trump Administration to probe it.

Just last week, the Prime Minister said he was confident it would go ahead.

“Well, there is no indication that I’ve seen of anything other than support for Aukus going forward,” Albanese told reporters in London.

“It is in the interests of all three nations.”

Australia is set to buy at least three nuclear-powered submarines from the US under Aukus and build a further five.

Canberra has already forked out billions laying the groundwork to acquire and build the boats and train personnel to crew them.

Washington abandoning it would deal a major blow to Australia’s 21st-century defence strategy.

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