US Senate Questions Trump’s Pentagon Nominee on AUKUS Review
The confirmation hearing for John Noh, Donald Trump’s nominee to oversee US defence strategy in the Indo-Pacific, highlighted lingering questions about the Australia-UK-US (AUKUS) submarine pact. While lawmakers on the Senate Armed Services Committee voiced broad support for AUKUS, they pressed Noh to outline what a commonsense approach to sustainability and practicality might look like for the security agreement.
What Noh Said About AUKUS
Asked for an assessment of AUKUS and its first pillar—providing Australia with nuclear-powered submarines—Noh offered a cautious response. He indicated there are “commonsense things that we can do to strengthen AUKUS,” but he steered away from giving concrete recommendations until the Pentagon completes its ongoing review. “I don’t want to pre-empt the review,” Noh told the committee. He added that as the findings emerge, Under Secretary Elbridge Colby and Secretary Pete Hegseth would have an opportunity to discuss specific recommendations.
The review, announced in June but apparently not begun in earnest until July, is evaluating whether AUKUS aligns with the president’s “America First” agenda and how funding, production, and strategic goals mesh with Washington’s broader defence priorities.
The Review’s Scope and Timing
Committee members—across party lines—want clarity on how the United States can sustain and scale its submarine program to fulfill its commitments to Australia. Noh described the review as a “brass tacks, commonsense look at the realities facing AUKUS,” with a timeline suggesting a fall conclusion. The autumn window in the United States runs from September 22 to December 21, framing ongoing expectations for policy direction before any formal decision is made.
Allies, Tariffs, and Indo-Pacific Strategy
The hearing occurred amid broader concerns about US treatment of Indo-Pacific allies. Senators cited recent tariffs and pressure on allied defence spending, stressing that the United States must avoid sending mixed signals about commitments to Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Taiwan. Committee Chairman John Wicker criticized several departmental decisions as perplexing given the strong support for AUKUS in Congress.
Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen urged urgency, questioning what message Washington sends to Australia—one of its closest partners—when a review could delay funding or operational decisions after the allies’ substantial contributions to AUKUS. The sentiment among lawmakers underscored a desire for clarity on timelines, funding, and concrete milestones for submarine production and delivery.
Technical Hurdles: Submarine Production and Funding
Beyond political optics, the practical questions remain: can the United States realistically increase its Virginia-class submarine production rate from about 1.2 vessels per year to a sustained 2.3 per year to meet domestic needs and AUKUS obligations? Noh acknowledged these production realities and the need to assess whether the pact is properly funded. The discussion pointed to the broader industrial base challenges that accompany the submarine enterprise, including shipyard capacity, supply chains, and long lead times for reactors and submarines.
What Comes Next
As the fall deadline approaches, all eyes turn to the assessment’s conclusions and the implications for how the United States will balance strategic commitments with domestic priorities. President Albanese is scheduled to meet with Mr. Trump in Washington in October for talks that could influence the political tempo surrounding AUKUS and allied defence spending commitments.
Under current terms, the first American submarine would arrive in Australia no earlier than 2032, with Australia ultimately receiving three to five Virginia-class boats before it starts building its own AUKUS-class submarines. Australia has already pledged up to US$2 billion in payments to boost US shipbuilding, with the total potential cost of the pact projected to reach about US$368 billion.
Conclusion
As policymakers await the Pentagon’s findings, the AUKUS review stands at the intersection of allied trust, industrial capability, and strategic necessity. Noh’s cautious stance—opting not to pre-empt the review—reflects a broader desire for a sustainable, well-funded path forward that can support steady regional security in the Indo-Pacific while addressing America’s own defence needs.
