U.S. to Conclude AUKUS Defense Pact Review by Fall 2025

AUKUS Defense Review Completion Date Announced by Pentagon

U.S. to Finalize AUKUS Defense Pact Review by Fall 2025

SYDNEY, July 30 (Reuters) – The United States is expected to complete its review of the AUKUS security pact — involving the U.K. and Australia — by the northern hemisphere’s autumn season, according to a statement from the Pentagon on Wednesday.

The defense deal, originally signed in 2021 under President Biden’s administration, allows Australia to acquire U.S.-built nuclear-powered submarines. However, the review was initiated last month under former President Donald Trump’s administration, raising concerns in Canberra over the future of the multibillion-dollar agreement.

Leading the review is Elbridge Colby, the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, who has previously voiced skepticism about AUKUS. His office stated on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that the review will be an “empirical and clear-eyed assessment,” aimed at giving the President and top officials a data-driven and thorough evaluation of the deal.

The AUKUS pact represents Australia’s most ambitious defense initiative to date, with a projected investment of A$368 billion (about $240 billion USD) over 30 years. This includes major financial commitments to boost U.S. submarine production capabilities.

Despite earlier criticism, Colby previously noted that the U.S. submarine industry is already strained and may not meet increasing demand. Nonetheless, Australia, which recently paid an A$800 million installment toward the deal, remains optimistic about the pact’s future.

In a show of continued cooperation, Australia and the U.K. recently signed a new 50-year bilateral submarine agreement that complements the broader AUKUS framework.

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