The Pentagon’s review of the AUKUS defence pact has affirmed the deal’s existing timeline, but warns that all three countries must meet critical deadlines for the project to succeed, a person who has read it says.
The much-anticipated review, which took nearly six months to complete, has been read by members of the congressional armed services committees, and handed to the Australian government. The Pentagon does not intend to make the review public, a spokesman said.
Elbridge Colby, the undersecretary of defence for policy and an AUKUS sceptic, led the review.Credit: Bloomberg
Democratic congressman Joe Courtney, who is on the armed services committee and co-chairs the Friends of Australia Caucus, said the review confirmed the most contentious part of the deal – the sale of three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia, starting in 2032.
But it also stressed that the pact required all three countries – Australia, the US and United Kingdom – to meet certain milestones in preparatory work.
“The report correctly determined that there are critical deadlines that all three countries have to meet,” Courtney said. “Therefore, maintaining disciplined adherence to schedule is paramount.”
