Australia keeps ‘welcoming’ AUKUS setbacks left, right and centre.

Defense Minister Richard Marles met with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in Singapore over the weekend and announced that an agreement would be reached. “Regulation” of the AUKUS agreementAustralia will purchase three used Virginia-class submarines instead of two used and one new as originally agreed.

Defense Secretary Meghan Quinn, questioned by shadow defense secretary James Paterson at Senate estimates on Tuesday, actually said: This is what Australia wanted all along: “Australia’s position is that we would always… prefer three submarines (submarines) in service.”