LATIKA M BOURKE: How Australia sealed Donald Trump’s support for AUKUS

The signs were good from the outset.

On Friday, less than a fortnight after Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s controversial, handpicked choice for US Defence Secretary was sworn in, he hosted his first foreign counterpart – Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles.

Australia had one mission — to make sure that the Trump Administration supports AUKUS — Australia’s plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, firstly through the purchase of Virginia-class boats from the United States and then through a newly co-designed and jointly-built AUKUS submarine in partnership with the British.

The disquiet about AUKUS in the United States has ranged from views like those articulated by Elbridge Colby – just appointed to be Hegseth’s deputy in the Pentagon – that Australia should not be entitled to the United States crown jewels of defence to concerns that it would strain the US Navy’s already stretched industrial base which is struggling to keep up with building its own boats fast enough.

But those views have quelled and when crunch time came support for AUKUS in Congress was bipartisan.

But President Trump’s America First policy, combined with his unpredictability and the way he is willing to treat partners and allies he views as freeloading or ripping off America, has long caused anxiety that this treatment could be dished out to Australia’s most expensive but vital defence capability yet.

Adding to the nervousness, was the fact that the President himself has never uttered a word about AUKUS, positive or otherwise. As of today, he still hasn’t.

But according to Mr Hegseth, he is a supporter.

“The President is very aware, supportive of AUKUS, recognises the importance of the defence industrial base, which the Deputy Prime Minister pointed out the investment Australia is willing to make,” he said.

Hegseth continued with the warm praise, although he appeared to confuse underwater with underground when he spoke of AUKUS’ merits.

“It enhances our ability in the subterranean space, but also our allies and partners,” he said.

“This is not a mission, in the Indo-Pacific, that America can undertake by itself.

“It has to be robust allies and partners.

“Technology sharing and subs are a huge part of it.

“So he’s aware and appreciative for his support and leadership on that topic.”

Asked if the first boat would be delivered on time, from the early 2030s, Mr Hegseth said: “We sure hope so.”

“Part of what President Trump is committed to doing is cutting red tape, investing in the defence industrial base, ensuring that we stand by our allies and partners,” he said.

“I think that’s something that was missing in the last four years, that President Trump demonstrated – you’re going to have no worse enemy and no better ally.

“And that’s what he’s charged me with at the Defence Department, is when we make these strategic partnerships and we invest in them, and there’s skin in the game, as the Deputy Prime Minister pointed out, we’re going to do everything possible we can to help deliver on that.”

And that is the sound of the hugest exhale you’ve ever heard.

This meeting could not have gone any better. Mr Marles, always excitable and eager in overseas meetings, was beaming, as he assured Mr Hegseth that Australia would be contributing “billions of dollars” to the US industrial base, including a first payment of half a billion USD, that in exquisite timing, Australia sent this past week.

“The cheque did clear,” Mr Hegseth confirmed.

Professor Peter Dean from the United States Studies Centre and author of Australia’s 2024 Defence Strategic Review told The Nightly it was the endorsement Australia had been waiting for.

“Secretary Hegseth publically confirmed the President’s knowledge and support of AUKUS — the first time we are aware of this,” Professor Dean said.

“Hegseth’s strong endorsement and his invitation for Marles to visit so quickly is of major significance in terms of US support for AUKUS and also the strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific.

Professor Dean said it was possible that AUKUS could do even better under the Trump Administration compared to how it might have fared under a Kamala Harris government.

“The Trump administration but even more importantly the Republican-controlled Senate and Congress are committed to increasing defence spending, reforming acquisition and cutting red tape,” he said.

“This means that the AUKUS partnership and broader bilateral Australia-US defence industrial partnership looks like it will progress at pace.

“Roger Wicker the chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee and a leading AUKUS supporter has already spoken with President Trump and received support for increasing defence funding aimed at revitalising shipbuilding, submarine construction and sustainment and the defence industrial base.

“If followed through this will be a major shot in the arm for AUKUS progress.”

All this is qualified by the fact that this is still the Trump Administration and the President’s word will always be final and subject to change.

But the decision to place Australia at the top of the Pentagon’s visitors list comes xon top of the State Department assembling the four Quad ministers for a meeting in Washington DC just after the inauguration, in Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s first hours in the job.

While Trump himself has shown signs he may be interested more in the process of negotiating a deal, and the drama and attention that brings, as opposed to containing China in a more systemic way, the early messages sent to Bejing by the State Department and Pentagon with these visits, and the support for a security-based Quad and delivering on AUKUS, show there are strong and not insignificant parts of the Administration that remain focussed China hawks.