2 weeks Ago By Caleb Taylor
Federal Minister for Education Jason Clare says Australia’s controversial AUKUS defence deal is not under threat, following the election of Donald Trump to the White House on Tuesday. There have been concerns about the pact since Trump became the Republican candidate with a much-touted “America First” foreign policy. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Jason Clare and Sussan Ley join Hot Topics on Sunrise.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today AUKUS is a trilateral security agreement between Australia, Britain and the US, part of which includes Australia acquiring nuclear-powered submarines from the US. Under the plan, British and US nuclear submarines will rotate out of a WA base from 2027, then Australia will buy up to five US Virginia class submarines in the 2030s, before constructing a new fleet known as SSN-AUKUS. The multi-billion-dollar pact was announced in 2021, by then prime minister Scott Morrison.
The agreement aims to address Chinese military assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region and was condemned by the country’s government which said it “seriously undermines regional peace and stability.” But with Trump’s victory this week, Australia’s political classes have been concerned about the ramifications for the agreement and the much older Anzus treaty between Australia, New Zealand and the US. On Friday, Education Minister Jason Clare joined Deputy Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley for Hot Topics on Sunrise , where he was questioned by host Monique Wright about the issue.
“Jason, under the Anzus treaty we expect America to come to our defence if we’re under threat. Given Trump is isolationist, he’s been forward throughout his campaign that he’ll put America first. Are you confident that treaty would hold up?” Wright asked.
“Absolutely. AUKUS is one of those examples where Labor Party, Liberal Party and Republicans are on the same page,” Clare said. “When the legislation went through the American Congress only a couple of months ago, it was bipartisan in its support.
“Democrats and Republicans are both backing this. I think both countries understand it’s in our mutual interest.” Wright then asked Ley about Australia’s relationship with the United States, and what the best way forward might be in dealing with the Trump White House.
“Close personal relationships between leaders are absolutely vital,” Ley said. “I think experience demonstrates that, including how well we worked with President Trump in 2018, particularly over the tariffs issue. We’ve congratulated the president-elect.
“We know that when the US is strong the world is at its best. A new president does bring a different focus but the fundamentals don’t change. “A strong United States is good for our security, international security and for our own economic security,” she said.
On Thursday Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had spoken to Trump to congratulate him on the victory and raised the issue of AUKUS. Albanese wrote on X, of his phone call to Trump: “We talked about the importance of the Alliance, and the strength of the Australia-US relationship in security, AUKUS, trade and investment. I look forward to working together in the interests of both our countries.
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