U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) has described the AUKUS defence alliance as the “beating heart of the free world.”
This comes as the Republican congressman calls for greater cooperation with the trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and for allies to adopt a “war footing” to avoid conflict with Beijing.
“We have to make AUKUS a success; this is a no-fail endeavour,” Mr. Gallagher said.
The congressman, who chairs the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and is co-chair of the Congressional AUKUS Working Group, is currently in Australia on a diplomatic visit as he urges the country to step up its defence spending.
During a talk at the Australian American Leadership Dialogue in Canberra on Aug. 10, he said Australia needs to prioritise the co-production of long-range precision missiles, which would be forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific to deter Beijing while it waits for nuclear submarines under the AUKUS deal.
Yet in July, the AUKUS deal encountered a roadblock when 30 U.S. Republican lawmakers moved to block legislation that would allow the United States to transfer as many as three nuclear-powered submarines to Australia.
While Mr. Gallagher assured Australia that the U.S. Congress would approve the transfer of the U.S. Virginia-class submarines, he emphasised that the United States needed billions of extra investments to boost local production of supplies such as ammunition, as well as invest more in ship-building capabilities.
“Consequently, as much as Australia is relying on the U.S. for submarine delivery, the U.S. is likewise going to rely on Australia to co-develop and supplement our munitions stockpiles,” he said.
Australia to Host ‘Quad’ Military Drills
For 10 days starting from Aug. 11, Australia will host the annual drills as part of Exercise Malabar, with warships from the United States, India, and Japan—an alliance known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad.This is the first time Australia has hosted the event.
Exercise Malabar has taken place in different locations around the Indo-Pacific since 2002 and has generally been a bilateral event between India and the United States.
As part of the exercise, the Quad Alliance will conduct air defence and anti-submarine training alongside aviation, communications and replenishment drills.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said it was an honour for Australia to host the military exercise.
“Amid the current strategic circumstances, it is more important than ever we partner with our neighbours and deepen our defence partnerships,” he said.
“Cooperation, shared understanding, and knowledge coupled with training contributes to shared security and prosperity for our region.”
U.S. Studies Centre research fellow Tom Corben said the exercise was a great example of how Quad countries could use their geography and capabilities as part of a strategy of collective deterrence.
“Conducting joint or coordinated activities with Quad partners out of Australian facilities would do much to improve the collective picture of Chinese naval activity in littoral Southeast Asia and the eastern Indian Ocean,” Mr. Corben said.
Royal Australian Navy Vice Adm. Mark Hammond said the exercises help bolster relationships between the countries.
“This esteemed exercise provides rich opportunities for our people to work and train together, to be prepared as high-functioning teams ready to face the complex challenges of the maritime domain,” he said.
