US Asserts AUKUS is Not a Threat, Australian Nuclear Submarines Under Scrutiny
The United States has once again defended the AUKUS defence partnership amidst rising strategic competition and concerns regarding nuclear proliferation in the Indo-Pacific. US Ambassador to ASEAN, Kevin Kim, asserted that the cooperation between Washington, Canberra, and London is designed to strengthen Australia’s defence capabilities while maintaining regional stability.
“This capability is intended to protect Australian sovereignty so that they can protect their waters,” Kim stated during a closed-door discussion with the media in Jakarta on Friday (31/7/2026).
Kim expressed his strong support for AUKUS, noting that prior to his appointment as ambassador, he served as a professional staff member for the US Senate Armed Services Committee and was involved in drafting the initial regulations that enabled the partnership’s implementation.
He added that US President Donald Trump also supports AUKUS. This support was previously emphasised by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during a meeting with Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles at the Pentagon in February 2025. Hegseth stated that Trump understands the importance of AUKUS, particularly regarding the strengthening of the defence industry and the sharing of security burdens with allies in the Indo-Pacific.
“Essentially, this partnership aims to deepen cooperation based on the defence industry,” Kim remarked.
Nuclear-Powered, Not Nuclear-Armed
AUKUS was established by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia in September 2021. The partnership consists of two main workstreams, known as Pillar I and Pillar II.
Pillar I focuses on assisting Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines that are conventionally armed. This distinction is crucial, as AUKUS submarines are not designed to carry nuclear weapons. Nuclear power is utilised as a propulsion system, allowing the submarines to remain submerged longer, move faster, and operate over greater distances compared to diesel-electric submarines.
Under the current plan, Australia will begin possessing and operating US-built Virginia-class submarines in the early 2030s. Australia and the UK will subsequently build a new generation of submarines, the SSN-AUKUS, with the first Australian-built vessel targeted for the 2040s.
Starting in 2027, the United States and the United Kingdom also plan to rotate submarine deployments to HMAS Stirling in Western Australia through the Submarine Rotational Force-West scheme. The Australian and British governments stated in June 2026 that preparations for these deployments are on track.
Meanwhile, Pillar II encompasses the development of advanced defence technologies, including artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, unmanned maritime vehicles, electronic warfare, quantum technology, cyber capabilities, and hypersonic weapons.