Overview
- Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong are traveling to Washington to meet US secretaries Pete Hegseth and Marco Rubio for AUSMIN, which marks 40 years of consultations.
- The Pentagon delivered a five‑month review to Canberra last week that, according to officials, endorsed the $368 billion AUKUS submarine plan, though the report has not been made public.
- US officials are urging higher allied defence spending, including Hegseth’s request for Australia to lift outlays to 3.5% of GDP, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Canberra will set its own levels.
- Talks will focus on AUKUS implementation, US force posture in Australia, and cooperation in areas such as cyber and space, with Marles also set for a trilateral meeting with Hegseth and UK Defence Secretary John Healey.
- Marles announced an annual Australia–Japan defence meeting during a Tokyo stop, as opposition spokesman Angus Taylor pressed for clearer funding commitments and timelines, including facilities in Western Australia.