BREAKING: Donald Trump supports AUKUS

ANALYSIS: Pete Hegseth's meeting with Richard Marles couldn't have gone any better

The signs were good from the outset.

On Friday, less than a fortnight after Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s controversial, handpicked choice for US Defence Secretary was sworn in, he hosted his first foreign counterpart – Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth (right) greets Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles at the Pentagon on Friday, February 7, 2025.

Australia had one mission – to make sure that the Trump Administration supports AUKUS – Australia’s plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, firstly through the purchase of Virginia-class boats from the United States and then through a newly co-designed and jointly-built AUKUS submarine in partnership with the British.

The disquiet about AUKUS in the United States has ranged from views like those articulated by Elbridge Colby – just appointed to be Hegseth’s Undersecretary in the Pentagon for Policy – that Australia should not be entitled to the United States crown jewel asset of defence to concerns that it would strain the US Navy’s already stretched industrial base which is struggling to keep up with building its own boats fast enough.

But those views have quelled and when crunch time came support for AUKUS in Congress was bipartisan.

But President Trump’s America First policy, combined with his unpredictability and the way he is willing to treat partners and allies he views as freeloading or ripping off America, has long caused anxiety that this treatment could be dished out to Australia’s most expensive but vital defence capability yet.

Adding to the nervousness, was the fact that the President himself has never uttered a word about AUKUS, positive or otherwise. As of today, he still hasn’t.

But according to Mr Hegseth, he is a supporter.

‘The President is very aware, supportive of AUKUS, recognises the importance of the defence industrial base, which the Deputy Prime Minister pointed out the investment Australia is willing to make,’ he said.

Hegseth continued with the warm praise, although he appeared to confuse underwater with underground when he spoke of AUKUS’ merits.