King Charles backs AUKUS submarine deal in hint for Trump

King Charles has praised the AUKUS defence pact between Australia, the US and Britain during Donald Trump's state visit to the UK.

In a welcome speech for the US President at a state banquet in Windsor Castle, the monarch described the tri-nation agreement as "the benchmark for innovative and vital collaboration".

Under the deal, Australia will acquire nuclear-powered submarines, but its future has been thrown into doubt after the Pentagon announced it was under review.

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It findings are expected to be released within weeks. There are concerns that the US won't provide Australia with its first nuclear-propelled submarine by the early 2030s as planned.

King Charles also reminded the US President of the long history of British-American defence cooperation and linked it to AUKUS and the importance of western support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

"Our countries have the closest defence, security and intelligence relationship ever known. In two world wars, we fought together to defeat the forces of tyranny.

"Today, as tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine, to deter aggression and secure peace.

"And our AUKUS submarine partnership, with Australia, sets the benchmark for innovative and vital collaboration."

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to hold talks with Trump in the US next week, and AUKUS is likely to be high on the agenda.

AUKUS was announced in 2021 to contend with growing Chinese military might in the Asia-Pacific region.

It would deliver Australia at least eight submarines including three to five second-hand US Virginia-class submarines. Britain and Australia would co-operate to build their own SSN-AUKUS submarines.

But in June, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the Trump administration was launching a review into the AUKUS agreement.

There are concerns that the US won't provide Australia with its first Virginia-class submarine by the early 2030s as planned because American submarine building was behind schedule.

The submarines are expected cost Australia up to $380 billion.

Australia has invested $1.5 billion in the US submarine industry, with another $1.5 billion to be paid before the end of this year.

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