Australia PM Confident in AUKUS Support Regardless of Future US Administration, By Reuters

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed confidence on Saturday that the AUKUS defence pact will receive backing from any future U.S. administration. This statement followed a meeting with President Joe Biden, where they discussed bilateral defence cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

As Biden prepares to leave office after the Nov. 5 election, which will decide whether Vice President Kamala Harris or Republican Donald Trump will take the presidency, concerns exist regarding Trump’s more confrontational stance toward China and his skepticism of traditional U.S. alliances. The United States remains Australia’s closest security ally.

"There is no question in my mind that AUKUS will continue to have the support of any future U.S. administration," Albanese declared during a press conference held in Philadelphia.

Established in 2021 to confront shared concerns about China’s expanding influence, AUKUS aims to facilitate Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered attack submarines and advanced weaponry, including hypersonic missiles.

Albanese is in the U.S. for the Quad Leaders Summit, where discussions are expected to focus on tensions between Beijing and its neighbors in the South China Sea, who have been engaged in ongoing territorial disputes, according to U.S. officials.

Ahead of the summit in Delaware, Albanese’s office announced that he met with Biden to discuss cooperation in defence and security, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.

Biden graciously hosted Albanese for this closed-door meeting, which was among several one-on-one discussions without media presence.

The two leaders "reaffirmed their commitment to the AUKUS partnership and noted the ongoing and bipartisan support for AUKUS across the alliance," a statement from Albanese’s office indicated.

They also acknowledged the substantial progress made this year, especially regarding Australia’s development of capabilities to manage and operate its own fleet of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, which are expected to be in service from the early 2030s.