Premier Roger Cook speaks to the media ahead of the GST Industry Roundtable at Hale House, Perth, on Wednesday.
Western Australia Premier Roger Cook has expressed unwavering confidence in the AUKUS trilateral security partnership despite recent tensions stemming from U.S. President Donald Trump‘s decision to impose additional tariffs on the United Kingdom. The tariffs, announced in response to the UK’s refusal to sell Greenland to the U.S., have raised concerns but Cook maintains that AUKUS remains a priority for all member nations.
In a statement on Sunday, Cook asserted that both the UK and the U.S. administrations are committed to the AUKUS agreement. “We know that both the UK Government, when it came into power, undertook a review of AUKUS and they continue to back it,” he said. Cook highlighted that the Trump administration also reaffirmed its support for the pact during its own policy review.
Significance of AUKUS for Australia
The AUKUS agreement, which aims to enhance security cooperation between Australia, the UK, and the U.S., includes plans for Australia to acquire between three and five Virginia-class submarines from the U.S. in the early 2030s. Following this acquisition, Australia and the UK are set to collaborate on designing and constructing a new class of attack submarines known as SSN-AUKUS.
Western Australia is poised to benefit significantly from AUKUS, with plans for a substantial upgrade of the Henderson defence precinct. This development is expected to create approximately 10,000 jobs in the region. The Australian government has already invested heavily in AUKUS initiatives, with a focus on shipbuilding and submarine maintenance activities at Henderson.
Furthermore, the Federal Government has allocated $4.6 billion AUD to the UK for Rolls-Royce to expand its facility in Derby, where nuclear reactors for the submarines are manufactured. This investment underscores the strategic importance of AUKUS in bolstering Australia’s defence capabilities.
Political Reactions to Tariffs
The imposition of a 10 percent tariff on Denmark, the UK, and six other European nations has sparked renewed tension between the U.S. and Europe. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Trump’s move, describing it as “very wrong.” He emphasized that the future of Greenland should be determined by the people of Greenland and Denmark.
Federal Finance Minister Katy Gallagher also criticized the imposition of tariffs on allied nations but refrained from commenting on the potential implications for Australia’s defence and foreign policy. “Our position on that has been clear that we don’t support tariffs – we support free trade,” Gallagher stated. She added that the question of Greenland’s sovereignty lies with Denmark and Greenland.
As tensions continue to rise, the future of AUKUS appears stable, with all parties involved reaffirming their commitment to the partnership. The developments in both trade and security will likely shape the dynamics of international relations in the coming years.
