Description: The Pentagon has announced that its review of the AUKUS defense partnership agreement between Australia, the UK and the US would be finished within several months, following an extensive investigation into the agreement’s cost effectiveness and its security importance. The Trump administration launched the review in Jun, which was led by the US Under Secretary of Defense, Elbridge Colby. The review prompted Australia to commit towards the second payment installment of $525 million and to conclude a 50 – year defense partnership with the UK, complementary to the AUKUS agreement.
Impact: The Trump administration achieved its ultimate goal regarding the AUKUS strategic partnership with Australia and the UK through the review, which effectively threatened US withdrawal from the agreement. Australia and the UK’s commitments since the commencement of the review in terms of capital investments and political strengthening of the partnership have potentially persuaded the US to maintain its crucial role in the agreement which blankets a key geopolitical flashpoint for Trump in the Indo – Pacific region and its aimed at directly countering China. The announcement regarding the prompt finish of the review indicates that the US would most probably remain committed towards the partnership and is expected to develop Australia’s nuclear submarine capabilities which would be comprised of three such submarines scheduled to be constructed within the next decade.