US Bipartisan Support Will Overcome AUKUS Scepticism: Congressman

AUKUS is designed as a counterweight to Beijing’s ongoing aggression in the Indo-Pacific.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (L), US President Joe Biden (C) and former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hold a press conference after a trilateral meeting during the AUKUS summit in San Diego, Calif., on March 13, 2023. Leon Neal/Getty Images

A senior U.S. congressman has sought to reassure Australians about the progress of the tri-nation AUKUS defence partnership amid criticism about its feasibility.

Democratic Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT), co-chair of the Congressional Friends of Australia Caucus, said the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act in December 2024 was a sign of Congress’ strong support for seeing the deal through.