US AUKUS Review Verdict Delayed, Leaving Pact in Limbo

The Pentagon is promising a rigorous, fact-based assessment of its alignment with America First.

President Donald Trump's nominee to be under secretary of defense for policy, Elbridge Colby, testifies during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 4, 2025. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

The United States has confirmed it will not complete its review of the AUKUS security pact until later this year, leaving the future of Australia’s $368 billion (US$233 billion) submarine deal in limbo.

A statement posted by the Office of U.S. Under Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby on X stated, “The department anticipates completing the review in the fall,” which spans from late September to November.