The commander of a visiting US Virginia-class submarine insists AUKUS will deliver the world’s “most capable and stealthy vessel” to Australia’s navy and has urged sceptical members of the public to better understand the benefits of nuclear-powered boats.
As growing doubts emerge over the future of the US alliance under Donald Trump’s administration, American submariners have shown off the cutting-edge war fighting features of the USS Minnesota during exercises off the West Australian coast.
Commander Jeffrey Cornielle, the commanding officer of the USS Minnesota, says the warship is one of the most advanced in the world, and that Australia would gain the capability to “operate a nuclear-powered, conventionally armed warship”.
“The role of the fast attack submarine, the submarine that I operate, and I command is so dynamic that everything changes on a dime, anything from weather, operations, things that are happening around the world — and we can answer at a moment’s notice,” he said.
“The things that this brings to our navy and to every navy that has nuclear-powered warships is significant and allows us to operate with essentially unlimited endurance, just limited by food”.
Commanding Officer Commander Jeffrey Cornielle says the USS Minnesota is one of the most advanced warships in the world. (Supplied: US Navy/ Public Affairs Officer Lt. Corey Todd Jones)
While showcasing his submarine, Commander Cornielle was reluctant to comment on Australia’s progress towards preparing to operate nuclear-powered boats for the first time but said he believed his nation would honour its AUKUS commitments.
“I think the people who are doing the negotiations, and the processes are gonna follow through with their agreements and transactions, I have no insight into what that looks like but we’re working towards it, we’re in pillar one now, we’re moving forwards,” Commander Cornielle said.
“I would say do your research, meet your sailors — meet your sailors that are interacting with our sailors and understand what this process is and what it brings to the table and then make your own decision at that point.”
Last month US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth declared President Donald Trump was “supportive” of the AUKUS project, after Australia sent a $US500 million ($798 million) payment to Washington as part of the plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
Master Chief Missile Technician Kevin Lewis looks on from the stern of the US Navy’s USS Minnesota while it visits Australia. (AFP: Colin Murty/Pool )
Labor party members urge MPs to reject AUKUS under Trump
Meanwhile, a grassroots anti-AUKUS campaign called “Labor Against War” has recently written to every federal Labor MP and candidate, urging them to reassess the submarine deal given the “tremendous upheaval in US-Australian relations” under US President Donald Trump.
Former Labor senator and campaign patron Doug Cameron says he is certain that current government ministers and MPs are “extremely concerned” about the AUKUS partnership with the US but won’t speak out because of “caucus solidarity”.
“The first few weeks of Trump’s presidency demonstrate he is belligerent, untrustworthy and dangerous,” the former Labor Senator told the ABC.
“Persisting with AUKUS will detract from the many achievements of Labor in office.
“The caucus solidarity approach has taken what I think is a stupid approach to such a big decision. It was not considered enough, and here we are about to spend untold amounts of money on something that may never happen.
“I’m certainly not a pacifist, and I think there’s an obligation on every Australian government to ensure the security of Australia — I just don’t think AUKUS is the way to go.”
