Asia & Pacific
In this file photo, US President Donald Trump greets Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House in Washington on October 20, 2025. (AFP/Saul Loeb)
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday the AUKUS defense pact remained "full steam ahead" after an overnight call with US President Donald Trump, adding that he had urged Trump to fully exempt Australia from all tariffs.Albanese said both leaders agreed that AUKUS, a defense pact between Australia, the US and Britain that will deliver nuclear-powered submarines to Australia, would continue to benefit all three countries.
"We reviewed the significant progress that has been made under AUKUS, which remains full steam ahead," Albanese told reporters in Canberra.
AUKUS is Australia's largest-ever defense project. It will see US-commanded Virginia-class submarines based in Australia from next year, several Virginia-class submarines sold to Australia from around 2030, and Britain and Australia building a new class of AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine.
