Overview
- Defence ministers from Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom meet in Washington today to set urgent next steps for implementation.
- A recent Pentagon review recommended ways to put the pact on its strongest footing, though the full findings have not been released.
- A source said the review, led by U.S. Under Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby, examined Australia’s base-building pace and U.S. Virginia-class production capacity.
- Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia is confident it can host four U.S. Virginia submarines in Perth by the end of 2027.
- Marles highlighted an “enormous uplift” in skilled workers, supply chains and maintenance capacity as key challenges now being addressed.