Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Amy Remeikis

Turnbull says Australia ‘mugged by reality’ on Aukus deal as US set to halve submarine build

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said ‘anyone that has any criticism of Aukus is almost described as being unpatriotic’. On Wednesday he responded to the US decision to decrease the number of number of submarines it will build next year.
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said ‘anyone that has any criticism of Aukus is almost described as being unpatriotic’. On Wednesday he responded to the US decision to decrease the number of number of submarines it will build next year. Photograph: Flavio Brancaleone/AAP

The former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said Australia has been “mugged by reality” over the Aukus submarine deal after the US announced it will halve the number of submarines it will build next year, throwing the Australia end of the agreement into doubt.

With the US president, Joe Biden, continuing to face a hostile Congress, the Pentagon budget draft request includes construction of just one Virginia-class nuclear submarine for 2025.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.