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President Donald Trump confirmed Monday that the US will provide Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines and simultaneously signed a new rare earth minerals agreement with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House.
The pledge came as part of Trump’s renewed commitment to the AUKUS defence partnership, which his administration had earlier placed under review.
Speaking alongside Albanese in the White House cabinet room, Trump said, “The submarines we’re building for Australia are progressing very well. We’ve worked long and hard on this, and the process is moving forward rapidly.”
Both leaders also endorsed a deal on critical minerals and rare earths, which are essential components in global technology and defence industries.
Albanese highlighted Australia’s vast mineral resources as key to reducing China’s dominance in the global supply chain.
The meeting was briefly overshadowed by an awkward exchange between Trump and Australia’s ambassador to Washington, former prime minister Kevin Rudd, who had previously criticised Trump online. “I don’t like you either. I probably never will,” Trump said when asked about Rudd’s past remarks.
Despite public scepticism towards Trump in Australia, Canberra continues to rely heavily on the United States to counter China’s growing military influence in the Pacific.
Australia hopes to secure at least three Virginia-class submarines within 15 years under the 2021 AUKUS agreement, which could cost up to US$235 billion over three decades.
The Trump administration had paused the deal in June to ensure it aligned with his “America First” policy amid concerns over the US Navy’s submarine production capacity.
Australia’s switch from a cancelled French diesel-submarine deal to the AUKUS pact with the US and UK marked a major strategic shift in its defence policy.
In preparation for the White House talks, Canberra promoted itself as a future supplier of lithium, cobalt, manganese, and rare earth metals vital to electronics, renewable energy, and defence manufacturing.
Albanese recently announced a strategic reserve of critical minerals for allied nations, including the United States, to help reduce China’s control over global supplies.
This followed Trump’s threat earlier this month to impose 100 per cent tariffs on China in response to its new export restrictions on rare earth materials.
Despite his tough rhetoric, Trump expressed optimism about trade relations, saying he expected a positive outcome from his forthcoming talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.
