Even by the standards of the Trumpian promise, the unvarnished commitment to Australia on US nuclear submarines – “they’re getting them” – is entirely unreliable.

They are not the US president’s boats to give.

The decision on whether Australia ever receives a Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarine from America will not be Trump’s to make.

For all the powers being husbanded to this imperial presidency, there are still limits to the power of the Oval Office. Trump can’t simply will Aukus into being.

Of course, Aukus has always been as much a political agreement as a military one. Desperately seeking submariners: why keeping nuclear-powered boats afloat will be Australia’s biggest Aukus challenge Read more

Australia’s political class has taken great succour from the fiercely sup

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