Pentagon official and former Aukus sceptic says deal is ‘full steam ahead’, echoing Trump

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Elbridge Colby, a US Pentagon official and former Aukus sceptic, expressed strong support for the nuclear submarine deal with Australia, affirming the program is progressing steadily. The deal involves the US selling three Virginia-class submarines to Australia, preceding Australian development of Aukus-class submarines.

Elbridge Colby, a US under secretary of war, says he is ‘very pleased’ with the nuclear submarine program’s progress Elbridge Colby, the third-highest-ranking official at the Pentagon and formerly an avowed Aukus sceptic, has mirrored his president’s language on the nuclear submarine deal, saying it is “full steam ahead”. Colby, a US under secretary of war, was the author of the Trump administration’s review of the Aukus deal, which would see the US sell three in-service Virginia-class submarines to Australia, before the development of Australia’s domestically built Aukus-class submarines. Continue reading...