AUKUS Pact Gains Bipartisan Support in U.S. Congress

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The AUKUS (Australia–United Kingdom–United States)  security agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States has received renewed bipartisan backing from U.S. lawmakers amid an ongoing review by the Pentagon. In a letter addressed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, members of Congress, including Republican John Moolenaar and Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi, reaffirmed their support for the pact and called on the Department of Defense to maintain full commitment to the trilateral partnership. They described AUKUS as critical to enhancing regional security and countering growing military influence in the Indo-Pacific.

The AUKUS agreement, announced in 2021, aims to deepen military and technological collaboration among the three countries. A key feature of the pact includes equipping Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. While the initiative is seen as a strategic response to increasing geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific, its future has come under scrutiny due to shifting political priorities and concerns over submarine production capacity in the U.S. The current Pentagon review, led by Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, is assessing whether the project aligns with broader U.S. defense objectives and whether it could strain the American submarine fleet.

Despite these concerns, congressional leaders stressed that Australia’s multi-billion-dollar investment in the U.S. submarine industrial base demonstrates the country’s commitment to the partnership. Lawmakers urged the Department of Defense to prioritize timely delivery of submarines, reduce bureaucratic delays, and provide regular updates to ensure transparency and accountability throughout the implementation process. They emphasized that AUKUS is not just about hardware, but about a shared long-term vision for security, innovation, and democratic cooperation.

Australian officials, including Defense Minister Richard Marles, have reiterated their support for the agreement and confirmed continued collaboration with U.S. and UK counterparts. Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers underscored that the review should be viewed as a strategic reassessment rather than a signal of retreat. With bipartisan momentum building in Congress, the path forward for AUKUS appears to remain strong, reflecting a united commitment to collective defense and regional stability.