AUKUS Moves Full Steam Ahead as Pentagon Signals Expectations, While Beijing’s Vision for Australia Stays Unrealized

Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby declared AUKUS is "full steam ahead" during a regional briefing, echoing President Trump's language while stopping short of guaranteeing the 2032 deadline for three Virginia-class submarines.

Background

The comments come after a turbulent period where Colby, once a prominent AUKUS sceptic, authored a review that was rewritten to align with Trump's support for the pact. The reassurance follows a "very warm" phone call between Prime Minister...