On Monday in Washington, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles engaged in significant two-plus-two talks. They held meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Pentagon recently announced that it finished its implementation review of the AUKUS bilateral security pact. This milestone represents a new chapter for the trilateral AUKUS alliance between the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
The AUKUS trilateral security pact has been criticized for promoting regional militarization. With this critical meeting behind us, look for further improvements to the settlement. Hegseth emphasized the commitment to strengthen AUKUS, stating, “We’re strengthening AUKUS so that it works for America, for Australia, and for the UK.”
Key Initiatives and Agreements
During the meeting, both nations agreed to establish an “Oversight and Support Group” to improve coordination of the American military presence in Australia. This new initiative is intended to help pre-position key American assets in Australia. Among these assets are the US Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys—which should ring a bell. The conversations highlighted a shared desire to build up military capabilities and presence in the region.
Marles highlighted the ongoing efforts to elevate defense spending, noting, “We’ve been very clear about our position in relation to defence spending and where that has led — and that has led to the biggest increase in peacetime defence spending in Australia’s history, and that is acknowledged by the US.” Improvements at air bases in Queensland and the Northern Territory are moving quickly. In doing so, they hope to bolster greater, more sustained rotations of US bombers, fighters and surveillance aircraft.
The review undertaken by the Australian National University stuck behind closed doors after AUSMIN talks. As Rubio described it, it sounds like a much more routine process focused on finding improvements in implementation within AUKUS itself. He remarked, “The review is essentially looking at ways in which AUKUS can be done better,” highlighting a proactive approach towards enhancing bilateral relations.
Future Collaborations
In the days to come, Marles and Hegseth will be taking these talks further with British counterpart John Healey. The three nations intend to dive further into the particulars of AUKUS and to pursue other ways to work together. Hegseth expressed optimism about future endeavors, stating, “There’s a lot we’re going to do together in the months ahead.”
Both the US and Australia intend to follow through with near-term actions. They’re committed to visionary, long-term strategic planning. Climate cooperation The two countries have pledged to cooperate on several novel, ambitious initiatives. The hope is these initiatives will help both countries as they face similar regional security challenges.
Marles acknowledged the importance of respecting the review process led by the US, saying, “I am going to respect the fact that it is America’s review.” This positivity is indicative of the collaborative spirit that both countries have, as they work towards ensuring their respective defense strategies are well-aligned.
Strategic Importance
Tensions in the Indo-Pacific region are changing by the hour. Strengthening AUKUS is a necessary move to further ensure peace and stability in this region. The Pentagon has recognized opportunities to bolster AUKUS, with a spokesperson stating they have “identified opportunities to put AUKUS on the strongest possible footing.” This aligns with broader US strategic objectives outlined in a recent White House strategy that underscores maintaining strong rhetoric and engagement with Australia.
