Democracy Dies in Darkness

Rubio quietly signals U.S. won’t sink submarine deal with Australia

The multibillion-dollar, Biden-era AUKUS agreement to sell Australia nuclear-powered submarines is under Pentagon review, worrying allies about Washington’s commitment to regional defense.

5 min
The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Missouri departs Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Sept. 1, 2021. (Chief Petty Officer Amanda Gray/U.S. Navy Office of Information/AP)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio privately reassured a top Australian official that a deal to provide the U.S. ally with nuclear-powered submarines, which is under review by the Pentagon, will not be terminated, according to six people familiar with the matter.

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