Will AUKUS Outlast Trump
And pure politics at that.
Morrison wanted a khaki election. He was unhappy with the French sub-deal and he needed the splash to go along with Dutton’s anti-China rhetoric as Minister for Defence. Aukus was a solution with such a long time frame that no one could ever predict it would actually eventuate, nor its ultimate cost. Boris Johnson needed to rejuvenate his defence shipyards. Biden wanted a long-term moderate approach to China and to reinvigorate those inefficient sub- yards on the US East Coast.
It was Biden who asked Morrison if he had a bipartisan arrangement and apparently insisted that Morrison bring Albanese into the fold. Labor was wedged, given 24 hours notice, and minimum briefing, and for a conservative politician like Albo there was no choice. But Labor knows Aukus WON’T last the predicted time frame. Predicting what Trump might do is a mugs game but he will dump Aukus in the first six months.
We must replace the Collins class subs, but not as nuclear. I hate to praise Tony Abbott , but he may have been correct -buy three subs “off the lot” from Japan at a good price. Instant delivery this