Donald Trump has confirmed the future of the $368 billion AUKUS submarine agreement, stating that the United States will proceed "full steam ahead" with the deal. This announcement came during his first in-person meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Trump assured that Australia would receive its promised fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, marking a significant victory for the Albanese administration.

When asked if Australia could rely on the submarines being built and delivered during his presidency, Trump responded, "Oh no, they're getting them." He emphasized, "There shouldn't be any more clarifications because we're just going full steam ahead building."

This statement alleviates months of uncertainty surrounding the deal, which had been under review by the Pentagon. The review was led by Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, who had previously expressed skepticism about AUKUS. Trump's previous silence on the agreement had also contributed to the speculation.

Joining the meeting was U.S. Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, who mentioned that Washington is working to enhance the agreement and address existing ambiguities. "We're looking at the AUKUS relationship and making it better for all three," Phelan said. Trump quickly reassured him, stating, "He's getting that taken care of — these are just minor details."

The comments from Trump are likely to be welcomed by Canberra, especially given its substantial investments in infrastructure at HMAS Stirling and HMAS Henderson in Western Australia. These facilities are set to host U.S. and U.K. submarines starting in 2027. Australia has already contributed $1.6 billion to the AUKUS pact.

The AUKUS agreement aims to deepen technological collaboration in areas such as cyber capabilities and undersea warfare, enhancing deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region. Defense spending has been a contentious issue between the U.S. and its allies since Trump's re-election, with the U.S. urging countries like Australia to increase military expenditures.

Recently, the Albanese government announced significant defense investments, including $1.7 billion for autonomous underwater drones and a $12 billion submarine base at Henderson to support AUKUS vessels and visiting U.S. forces. Additionally, a landmark security pact with Papua New Guinea was established, described as a "total integration" of the two nations' military forces.

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has suggested that Australia should aim to raise its defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, which would amount to nearly $100 billion annually. However, Trump adopted a more supportive tone towards Australia’s defense efforts, stating, "I'd always love more. But you have to do what you have to do. I think they've been great. They're building magnificent holding pads for the submarines. Their military has been very strong. Very, very strong."

This positive feedback contrasts sharply with Trump's previous confrontational stance towards U.S. allies in Asia and NATO, where he has pushed for increased defense spending.

In addition to discussing AUKUS, Trump downplayed the likelihood of a major conflict between the U.S. and China over Taiwan. He suggested that while China may desire control over the self-ruled island, it would not attempt an invasion during his presidency. This comes after Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles reported a recent incident where a Chinese aircraft endangered an Australian P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

At a recent security dialogue, Hegseth warned that China is preparing to use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, particularly regarding Taiwan. When asked if AUKUS serves as a deterrent against China, Trump expressed confidence in the agreement but stated, "I don't think we're going to need it. I think we'll be just fine with China. China doesn't want to do that."

He added, "The United States is the strongest military power by far, and it's not even close. We have the best equipment, we have the best of everything. Nobody's going to mess with that."

As part of the AUKUS agreement, U.S. nuclear-powered submarines are scheduled to be based at HMAS Stirling starting in 2027, with plans for rotational deployments that will also include U.K. submarines.