Ranking Member Courtney: Pentagon’s Review Fully Endorses AUKUS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee and Co-Chair of the Congressional Friends of Australia Caucus, released the following statement on the Pentagon’s now completed AUKUS review after Members of the House Armed Services Committee had the opportunity to read the review.

“The Pentagon’s five-month review endorsed the AUKUS agreement and correctly determined that its framework is aligned with our country’s national security interest. With its completion, it is important to note that the 2021 AUKUS agreement has now survived three changes of government in all three nations and still stands strong. The statutory authority enacted by Congress in 2023 will remain intact, including the sale of three Virginia-class submarines starting in 2032. The report correctly determined that there are critical deadlines that all three countries have to meet. Therefore, maintaining disciplined adherence to schedule is paramount,” Courtney said. “To that point, Congress is poised in the next two weeks to deliver another major boost to the U.S. submarine industrial base, which is in included in the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which will build on the over $10 billion investment from Congress since 2018 and Australia’s $3 billion committed investment under AUKUS. With that investment, U.S. submarine shipyards are now delivering tonnage output near all-time highs. The AUKUS report reaffirms that Congress and our Australian allies must continue that effort to achieve the goals of AUKUS. Expanding the submarine workforce, supply chain, and facilities to even greater capacity is the clear pathway to meet the demands of U.S. submarine fleet requirements and those of our ally Australia.” 

###