Australia's Deputy Prime Minster and Defence Minister Richard Marles (center) speaks as Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, left, and Britain's Defence Secretary John Healey, right, listen on at the AUKUS Defence Ministers' Ministerial meeting at the Pentagon in Washington. Source: AP / Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Defence ministers from Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom met at the Pentagon for the first Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) ministerial discussions, marking a shift towards delivering the trilateral submarine pact. The leaders highlighted regional stability needs, defence capability and the $368-billion project’s strategic value, while critics remain concerned over nuclear risk, transparency and Australia’s obligations under nuclear-free treaties.
Defence ministers from Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom met at the Pentagon for the first Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) ministerial discussions, marking a shift towards delivering the trilateral submarine pact. The leaders highlighted regional stability needs, defence capability and the $368-billion project’s strategic value, while critics remain concerned over nuclear risk, transparency and Australia’s obligations under nuclear-free treaties.
