Troubled waters
As Albanese tours allies abroad, Trump's AUKUS review and rising US demands put pressure on Australia’s defence commitments.
Anthony Albanese jets out of Canberra today for a high-stakes diplomatic sprint through Fiji, Canada and the United States — just as the Trump administration begins its review of the AUKUS submarine pact.
The prime minister’s first meeting with Donald Trump — expected but not yet confirmed — shapes as his biggest test in foreign affairs to date. It is likely to take place on the sidelines of the G7 in Alberta, and Australian officials expect it to go ahead.
News broke early on Thursday that the Trump administration had ordered a review of AUKUS, to be headed by Elbridge Colby — a longtime sceptic of the submarine deal. It came hot on the heels of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urging Australia to lift its defence spending to 3.5% of GDP “as soon as possible” during a meeting with his Australian counterpart, Richard Marles, last week.
During the trip, Albanese is expected to make a series of defence announcements designed to remind the Americans of how much Canberra is contributing to its own defence — as well as to the US industrial base. This will come on top of the USD3 billion ($4.6 billion) Australia has already committed to help the US improve its submarine shipbuilding capability, including a USD500 million down payment already made.
