Australia says it will meet 'challenges' of AUKUS nuclear submarine timeline

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth make statements to the media during the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) at the State Department in Washington, D.C., U.S., December 8, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

SYDNEY, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia was "very self-critical" as it looked to address challenges, including skilling its workforce, for the AUKUS nuclear submarine programme, ahead of AUKUS defence ministers meeting in Washington.

A Pentagon review of AUKUS had found areas to put the deal on the "strongest possible footing," a U.S. official said last week, although the findings have not been made public.