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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Jonathan Barrett and Patrick Commins

Aukus will cost Australia $368bn. What if there was a better, cheaper defence strategy?

The future Virginia-class attack submarine Montana in 2022 in the Atlantic Ocean
The future Virginia-class attack submarine Montana in 2022 in the Atlantic Ocean. Aukus is estimated to cost up to $368bn over 30 years. Photograph: Ashley Cowan/U.S. Navy

As Australia’s nuclear submarine-led defence strategy threatens to fray, strategists say it’s time to evaluate whether the military and economic case of the tripartite deal still stacks up.

The defence tie-up with the US and UK, called Aukus, is estimated to cost up to $368bn over 30 years, although the deal could become even more costly should Donald Trump renegotiate terms to meet his “America first” agenda.

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