The U.S. review of AUKUS Pillar I puts the deal in jeopardy, but strong strategic imperatives mean Washington is more likely to revise the pact than scrap Pillar I outright. On June 11, the U.S. Department of Defense formally launched a 30-day review of AUKUS Pillar I, the nuclear-powered submarine component of the trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States signed in 2021. According to the Pentagon, the review aims to evaluate if the AUKUS submarine deal aligns with U.S. military capacity, industrial readiness and national interests pursuant to the Trump administration's "America First" doctrine. U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, a known AUKUS sceptic, will oversee the review, assessing the feasibility and desirability of delivering up to five Virginia‑class attack submarines to Australia. The review will have no immediate direct bearing on Pillar II, but its outcome will have significant implications for its...
