This is the man leading a US review of its nuclear submarine deal with Australia under the three-nation AUKUS partnership following concerns the plan to supply the subs would harm the US Navy and the "America First" approach. Conroy is correct to defend Australia's right to decide when all the facts are known — but the complicating factor here is we are already deeply tied to the US through AUKUS, which leaves a large question mark over the expectations that might indeed come loaded with that arrangement down the track. Spare a thought for the prime minister who must, over the next week, walk the delicate line of taking the relationship to a higher level economically while remaining staunch in our message around aggression in the South China Sea and human rights issues.
Author: Patricia Karvelas
Published at: 2025-07-13 19:12:33
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