President Donald Trump’s White House statements during Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s recent visit confirmed Trump supports advancing AUKUS, regardless of an ongoing Department of Defense review, a DoD nominee said last week.
Austin Dahmer, nominee to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities, made these comments during his testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Nov. 4 at his confirmation hearing with two other nominees.
While Dahmer did not answer a question from Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on whether the review was coordinated with international partners and other administration officials, he said it was natural for the administration to review a “signature initiative of the Biden Administration” to ensure it accorded with Trump’s “America First Peace Through Strength agenda.”
The AUKUS agreement provides for the U.S., United Kingdom and Australia to increase cooperation on helping Australia develop the capability to field, sustain and build its own nuclear-powered attack submarines.
Dahmer also reiterated other administration talking points that both the United Kingdom and Australian governments themselves reviewed AUKUS when administration and party changes took place following elections. He said Trump was clear that they are advancing AUKUS and “working to ensure its success,” but he also wanted to stress the importance of the nuclear-powered attack submarine fleet to defend the homeland and deter rivals.
Dahmer currently serves as the acting deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, which oversees a larger set of duties than the role he is nominated for.
Exchange Monitor affiliate Defense Daily first published a version of this story.