US Says ‘Significant Progress’ Made Toward Australia’s Acquisition of Nuclear Subs at Earliest Date

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (R) welcomes Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Richard Marles (L) to the Pentagon in Washington on Feb. 3, 2023. Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says that “significant progress” has been made toward Australia’s acquisition of a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines “at the earliest possible date” under the AUKUS security pact.

Austin met with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles in Washington on Feb. 4 to discuss the trilateral AUKUS (which includes the UK) partnership, their mutual security efforts within the Indo-Pacific region, and other issues.