4 US Nuclear Submarines to be Deployed to Australia; Defense Minister Says AUKUS is Progressing

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said on Wednesday that a US Navy nuclear-powered submarine squadron will be deployed to a strategic naval base in Australia this year, a move he said signifies the continued progress of the AUKUS security pact.

According to AFP, under the AUKUS agreement, four US nuclear-powered submarines will be rotationally deployed to a port in Western Australia starting next year. Personnel from US Submarine Squadron 3 will operate the vessels and carry out missions jointly with Australian and British personnel.

Marles said the rotational force will be responsible for training, laying the foundation for Australia to operate its own nuclear-powered submarines in the future. He also noted that the US plan shows "AUKUS is progressing on schedule and has begun to be implemented."

US officials said the base near Perth allows the US Navy to get closer to the South China Sea, which has strategic significance amid rising tensions between Beijing and Taiwan.

Marles visited London this week for talks on AUKUS, but the trip was affected by the sudden resignation of UK Defense Secretary John Healey. Healey met with Marles on the 11th and reaffirmed support for AUKUS, but a planned visit by Marles to the Portsmouth naval base did not take place.

The AUKUS agreement is Australia's most expensive defense plan. Under the plan, the Canberra government will purchase three used nuclear-powered submarines from the US starting in 2032 and build new nuclear-powered submarines in cooperation with the UK.

However, there are concerns that US and UK submarine production is not keeping pace, potentially preventing Australia from acquiring the required number of submarines before 2040.