In the wake of the Pentagon’s announcement of a review into the AUKUS submarine transfer, Security & Defence PLuS Executive Director, Retired Brigadier Dr Ian Langford, joined Sky News Australia to discuss the implications. Langford described the review as no surprise, suggesting it reflects “a realignment of the US defence and foreign policy agenda to accord with Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ strategy.” He highlighted ongoing US concerns about their own submarine build-rate amid rising competition with China.
Langford warned that if the planned transfer of US Virginia-class submarines to Australia were delayed or cancelled, it would leave a critical capability gap. In the absence of that transfer, Langford pointed to options such as accelerating SSN-AUKUS construction with the UK, a scenario he noted was unlikely, or increasing the tempo of US and UK submarine rotations through HMAS Stirling from 2027. He also framed the announcement’s timing, ahead of the Prime Minister’s G7 visit, as deliberate statecraft: “The Americans could have conducted this review without a public announcement.”
US defence policy ‘realigning’ to Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ strategy
In the wake of the Pentagon’s announcement of a review into the AUKUS submarine transfer, Security & Defence PLuS Executive Director, Retired Brigadier Dr Ian Langford, joined Sky News Australia to discuss the implications. Langford described the review as no surprise, suggesting it reflects “a realignment of the US defence and foreign policy agenda to accord with Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ strategy.” He highlighted ongoing US concerns about their own submarine build-rate amid rising competition with China.
Langford warned that if the planned transfer of US Virginia-class submarines to Australia were delayed or cancelled, it would leave a critical capability gap. In the absence of that transfer, Langford pointed to options such as accelerating SSN-AUKUS construction with the UK, a scenario he noted was unlikely, or increasing the tempo of US and UK submarine rotations through HMAS Stirling from 2027. He also framed the announcement’s timing, ahead of the Prime Minister’s G7 visit, as deliberate statecraft: “The Americans could have conducted this review without a public announcement.”