Leader of US House armed services committee says Washington must substantially boost its own defence manufacturing capacity before it can sell nuclear submarines to Australia
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A leading US congressman admits America must substantially boost its defence manufacturing capacity in order to sell Australia nuclear submarines under Aukus, floating the idea of adding Japan, South Korea or Norway to the pact to help build more ships.
Anthony Albanese has returned from Washington DC with Donald Trump’s endorsement of Aukus and a fresh show of support from long-time backers of the military pact in the US congress. Both Republican and Democratic politicians reaffirmed their support to help Australia buy second-hand American submarines, even as concerns still remain about whether US shipyards – currently not working fast enough to meet America’s own requirements – can produce enough boats to sell any extras.