In Washington, for the first time, two influential politicians have voiced concerns about the delivery of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia.

In a leaked letter to President Joe Biden, the senators warned that the domestic submarine industry could be overburdened with the deal under the AUKUS security pact.

Till Fähnders

Political correspondent for Southeast Asia.

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"We believe that the current situation requires a sober assessment of the facts in order to prevent the submarine industry from being strained beyond the breaking point," wrote Jack Reed (Democrat) and James Inhofe (Republican) to the Internet portal Breaking Defense according to which received the letter dated 21 December.

The report caused uncertainty, especially in Australia.

There it is feared that there could be further delays in the expansion of the Australian submarine fleet.

Defense Secretary Richard Marles said through a spokeswoman that Australia is still well on the way to acquiring nuclear-powered submarines.

The business is slowly taking shape, the spokeswoman said.

"We are on track to make an announcement in the first part of this year." According to the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, the government wants to announce by March exactly what type of submarine it intends to acquire.

Australia canceled deal with France

The three AUKUS countries Australia, Great Britain and the United States announced the Pact in 2021.

Under him, Australia will become only the second American ally, after Britain, to have access to American technology for nuclear-powered submarines.

Australia's goal is to build the submarines on its own territory.

According to estimates, however, the corresponding capacities will not be ready before 2040.

The former secretary of defense and current leader of the opposition, Peter Dutton, is therefore in favor of buying Virginia-class submarines directly from American production as a temporary measure.

However, the American shipyards should hardly be able to even cover the needs of their own Navy.

Senators Reed and Inhofe pointed out in their letter that the United States has more than 50 submarines, but the need is 66 boats.

In view of an increasingly militarized China in particular, they see a strategic benefit if Australia gets nuclear-powered submarines.

However, they warned that the strategic advantage would be zero if the needs of their own armed forces were put aside.

Australia currently has six conventionally powered Collins-class submarines.

They are to be phased out by 2030 at the latest.

As part of the AUKUS pact, Australia had canceled a deal to buy French submarines - which upset Paris.