Senators Raise Concerns Over Dwindling US Nuclear Submarine Supply Amid Deal With Australia

The Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Illinois (SSN 786) returns home to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam from a deployment in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility on Sept. 13, 2021. Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Michael B. Zingaro/U.S. Navy via AP

Senators on the Foreign Relations Committee are concerned that the United States doesn’t have enough nuclear submarines to properly defend itself after striking an agreement to supply Australia with U.S. submarines.

The senators made the remarks during a Sept. 6 hearing in which officials from the State and Defense departments testified on the trilateral security pact between Australia, the UK, and the United States, known as AUKUS, announced in September 2021.