Richardson – former secretary of both the defence and foreign affairs departments, a former Asio chief and a former ambassador to the US – has been tasked with conducting a “top-to-bottom” review of the Australian Submarine Agency amid emerging concerns over its management of the Aukus submarine deal. These will replace Australia’s ageing Collins class diesel-electric submarines before Australia’s own Aukus nuclear-powered submarines can be built. Richardson told the forum Australia’s relationship with the US would be increasingly difficult to manage, given the unpredictability of the current US administration, and its willingness to castigate and abandon allies. “The biggest risk is not the Americans walking away from Aukus, the biggest risk is the relationship with the United States more broadly becoming unstuck. This is the only sovereign option.”Opening the forum, Turnbull said Australia’s relationship with the US had been irrevocably altered by the new Trump administration.

Source: The Guardian March 31, 2025 18:40 UTC