US Senate Examines AUKUS Review and Noh’s View on the Pact
The US Senate Armed Services Committee held questions for John Noh, President Trump’s nominee to oversee Indo-Pacific security strategy, about the Australia-UK-US security pact (AUKUS). While Noh signaled that the review of AUKUS should be allowed to unfold, he also pointed to practical steps that could strengthen the arrangement, emphasizing a need for what he called commonsense actions from both Washington and Canberra.
At the confirmation hearing for the role of assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, Noh acknowledged that the AUKUS review is ongoing and said he did not want to pre-empt the work of Under Secretary Elbridge Colby and Secretary Pete Hegseth. He stressed that as findings emerge, those officials would discuss specific recommendations. This stance reflected a broader concern among lawmakers about ensuring the pact aligns with the president’s America First agenda while maintaining strong alliance commitments in the Indo-Pacific.
Raising Practical Questions About Submarine Capacity and Funding
Noh highlighted several practical areas the review is examining, including whether the pact meets funding realities and how to scale production. A major sticking point cited during the hearing is the United States’ ability to produce sufficient Virginia-class submarines to maintain its own fleet while delivering three to five submarines to Australia under AUKUS.
To meet shipbuilding targets, Noh indicated that the United States would need to increase its submarine production rate from about 1.2 boats per year to roughly 2.3 per year. He described these production challenges as central to the ongoing review and said a “brass tacks, commonsense” assessment would address whether the program is funded and whether the current production plan is sustainable over the long term.
Political Reactions and Ally Concerns
Committee members from both parties voiced concerns that the AUKUS review has sent mixed signals to key allies in the region. Republican Chairman John Wicker described the review as a “distressing surprise” to Australia, while Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen pressed for clarity on the messages being conveyed to allies who have contributed significantly to AUKUS. The sense among lawmakers is that timely conclusions are needed to reassure partners such as Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
Despite the parliamentary pushback on process, there remains broad support in Congress for AUKUS. Lawmakers noted Australia’s commitment to the pact and emphasized the strategic value of maintaining a robust defense and industrial partnership, particularly in the context of broader regional security dynamics and shifts in defense spending across the Indo-Pacific.
Why AUKUS Matters Now
The AUKUS pact, which centers on Australia gaining access to nuclear-powered submarines, hinges on a delicate balance between capability, capacity, and cost. While the first American submarine is not expected in Australia before 2032 under current terms, the arrangement aims to deter strategic threats and strengthen allied interoperability.
Australia has agreed to contribute financially to the U.S. shipbuilding effort, with a substantial payment already made as part of the broader commitment. The total program cost for Australia is projected to run into hundreds of billions of dollars, underscoring the importance of a sustainable and well-funded plan that satisfies both national priorities and alliance responsibilities.
The Path Forward
As autumn unfolds in the U.S. political calendar, the AUKUS review is anticipated to deliver concrete recommendations this fall. The forthcoming findings will guide how the United States and Australia adapt the pact to contemporary strategic realities while addressing production bottlenecks and funding concerns. For now, Noh’s testimony signals a cautious but proactive approach: acknowledge the necessity of reform where needed, avoid premature conclusions, and let the review’s outcomes shape policy decisions.
With Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese set for a high-level meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington, the coming weeks will be pivotal in signaling the durability of AUKUS and the broader U.S.-Australia security partnership in a rapidly shifting Indo-Pacific landscape.
