Australian government downplays ‘natural’ decision by Pentagon to review Aukus defence pact
Richard Marles says support for trilateral agreement still strong in Washington and Australia knew about review weeks ago
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The defence minister Richard Marles has downplayed the Trump administration's review into the Aukus submarines program, as has former prime minister Scott Morrison, the architect of the pact, with both saying there was still strong support for the trilateral agreement in Washington DC.
Marles said it was natural" that the United States would examine the project, revealing the Australian government had known about the review for weeks and was comfortable" with it. Morrison said the review was a departmental process rather than a policy decision, and should not be over-interpreted", but that Australia must make the case" for the deal to survive.
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