Aukus

China conducted a submarine-launched ballistic missile test over the South Pacific, a region designated as a nuclear weapons-free zone under the Treaty of Rarotonga. While the test did not technically violate the treaty's text due to a non-nuclear dummy warhead, Pacific nations and analysts accused China of undermining the zone's spirit. New Zealand and Australia raised concerns, citing growing pressure from nuclear-armed states on such zones.

Gareth Evans criticizes AUKUS as one of Australia's worst defense and foreign policy decisions, arguing the belief in U.S. defense in an existential attack is a 'ludicrous delusion.' He claims the nuclear agreement with the U.S. and UK is an extension of the American military fleet.

The U.S. Navy established NSA Stirling in Western Australia, part of the AUKUS pact's Pillar I, to support Submarine Rotational Force–West (SRF-West) with maintenance and sustainment infrastructure for U.S. and British nuclear submarines. The facility, expected to be operational by 2027, aims to enhance regional readiness, while a Singapore meeting confirmed progress on AUKUS milestones and announced a 2027 Pillar II project for uncrewed undersea vehicles.

The Greens warn that Australia's purchase of Virginia-class attack submarines could risk war with China. Anthony Albanese states the Aukus security pact is moving 'full-steam ahead' despite calls to cancel the nuclear-powered submarines deal.

Australia is acquiring three used American nuclear submarines under the AUKUS defense agreement with the United States and the United Kingdom. The decision replaces an earlier plan for two used submarines and one new one, with AUKUS dominating headlines since its 2021 announcement.

Australia will receive three second-hand Virginia-class, nuclear-powered submarines from the U.S. under a revised AUKUS agreement, replacing the original plan. The change has sparked accusations of a 'bait and switch' in Canberra.

Australia's defense secretary stated the country always preferred secondhand submarines under the Aukus deal, as revealed in Senate estimates. Penny Wong acknowledged President Trump's opposition to Israel's potential attack on Beirut as 'significant and important' but declined to comment further on the call's details.

The US is transferring three in-service Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines to Australia under the AUKUS program, deviating from the original plan of one new Block VII and two used Block IV submarines. This shift raises questions about the program's capabilities, costs, and potential motivations, including US access to Australian bases.

An Australian ex-minister has launched a crowd-funded inquiry to investigate whether Australia will receive the submarines under the Aukus deal and if the agreement will enhance national security.

China has approved the world’s first invasive brain-computer interface, the NEO implant, enabling paralyzed patient Dong Hui to write using his thoughts. The milestone accelerates China’s push for global leadership in brain implants, while other tech updates include Nvidia’s AI chip for PCs, US export restrictions on AI chips to China, and pig organ transplants in humans.

Australia plans to purchase second-hand nuclear submarines from the US under a major Aukus shift. Senator Hanson suggests she could become Prime Minister, while Marles addresses security concerns at the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Australia's defense minister Richard Marles warned that the 'seabed is a battlefield' and urged Beijing to increase transparency in maritime operations. The US, UK, and Australia announced a new AUKUS project to develop underwater drone technology for protecting undersea cables, with Australia set to purchase secondhand Aukus submarines from the US.

AUKUS partners have signed an agreement focused on underwater drones and accelerated submarine plans. Australia will not purchase a new Virginia-class submarine but instead acquire a previously used submarine from the US Navy.

The US, UK, and Australia are collaborating under the Aukus military pact to develop underwater drone technology. The initiative aims to protect undersea cables and enhance naval defense capabilities.

The US, UK, and Australia are collaborating to develop underwater drone technology under the Aukus military pact. The technology aims to protect undersea cables and enhance naval defense capabilities.

Australia has initiated a high-risk life-extension program for its Collins-class submarines, facing delays and criticism from auditors. The A$11 billion project aims to bridge capability gaps until new Virginia-class and AUKUS submarines arrive in the 2030s and 2040s, but auditors warn of poor planning and value-for-money concerns.

Australian taxpayers will pay $11bn to extend the lifespan of Australia's ageing Collins-class submarines by another decade. The submarines were originally designed to have a 30-year working life and have already been operational for between 23 and 30 years. The extension will bridge the capability gap before the scheduled arrival of the first Aukus vessels in 2032.

A labour union has expressed alarm about Port Kembla being a preferred base for nuclear-powered submarines, warning of political fallout. The South Coast Labour Council opposes surrendering Port Kembla to the US Navy as an Aukus base. This decision could have significant implications.

The article examines AUKUS's impact on North Korea's strategic posture over the past five years, analyzing how Pyongyang perceives the alliance as a threat. It questions whether AUKUS has actually influenced North Korea's evolving grand strategy despite the regime's rhetoric portraying it as dangerous.

The Australian Submarine Agency's budget will increase to $512m in the next financial year, a jump of $127m, amid concerns about the Aukus deal and the search for a nuclear waste dump. The agency's funding has ballooned by over $430m in four years. The increased budget will support staffing and securing nuclear-powered submarines.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong secured a pledge from China to facilitate jet fuel exports during her Beijing visit. A US lawmaker warned the Aukus alliance's costs could rise, while PM Anthony Albanese stated Australia provides no support for repatriating certain families.

King Charles praised the AUKUS defense pact and expressed pride in Australia during a speech to the US Congress, highlighting nuclear submarine ties. James Paterson, the Coalition’s defense spokesperson, emphasized the US-Australia alliance remains robust despite potential shifts in public opinion under the Trump administration.

A UK parliamentary inquiry warns that funding shortfalls and operational challenges in the UK's submarine program threaten the Aukus nuclear submarine plan, risking Australia's security. The report highlights decades of underfunding in UK shipbuilding and critically low submarine availability.

Wales’s first minister Eluned Morgan has urged Labour leader Keir Starmer to suspend the US-UK space defence project Darc, citing Donald Trump’s alleged contempt for the UK and Iran threats. The project is part of the Aukus defence partnership involving the UK, US, and Australia.