Australia to get world’s most advanced 10,000-ton nuclear submarines

The United States is set to deliver the world’s most advanced 10,000-ton Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia under the AUKUS trilateral defense pact with the United Kingdom. This deal, reaffirmed during a meeting between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and former US President Donald Trump, aims to bolster Australia’s long-range deterrence capabilities and strengthen Western naval power in the Indo-Pacific amid escalating tensions with China. Australia is expected to receive at least three used submarines starting in the early 2030s, though concerns remain about whether the US Navy can supply these without affecting its own fleet readiness. To address this, the Pentagon is reviewing submarine production capacity to keep the AUKUS timeline on track. In addition to the submarine transfer, Australia will supply critical minerals to the US under a multi-billion-dollar agreement designed to reduce dependence on China for rare earth elements vital to defense and high-tech manufacturing. The US has praised Australia’s ongoing defense investments, including a $1 billion contribution