Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insisted the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal remains on track, saying it was in the US' interests to assist Australia with its defence capability.
Democratic Senator Jack Reed and Republican James Inhofe expressed their concern in a letter on December 21 - leaked to the US website Breaking Defence Indo-Pacific - fearing the agreement could jeopardise the United States' own fleet of submarines.
Stream your news live & on demand with Flash for $8/month and no lock in contracts. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Offer ends 31 October, 2023The US seeks to build its own fleet of 60 nuclear-powered submarines but has been struggling to meet its own needs, meaning it could be decades before Australia gets new submarines.
“I’m very positive about the discussions that have been advanced, and that will come to realisation in the first quarter of this year that will see cooperation going forward." Mr Marles acknowledged there would be challenges along the way and pointed to the importance of Australia developing its own nuclear submarines.
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