Fears of American crews controlling Australia’s nuclear submarines in AUKUS deal ‘overhyped’

A US official has insisted Australia will be given full control of its new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines after concerns were raised America would remain in control.

Joe Courtney dismissed the concerns of joint crewing and labelled them ‘over-hyped’ insisting the submarines will be under ‘Australian control’.

US officials revealed on Wednesday Australia is expected to buy up to five US Virginia class nuclear powered submarines in the 2030’s.

The purchase is part of a landmark defence agreement between Washington, Canberra and London and is known as the AUKUS pact.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to make the formal announcement on Monday. 

Mr Courtney, who is co-chair of Washington’s ‘AUKUS Caucus’ labelled the partnership ‘transformational’ and that it would be a ‘very thoughtful product’.

‘It’s going to be a transformational enterprise for working people in Australia,’ he told ABC’s Insiders on Sunday.

‘Everybody’s going to be sort of contributing to each other’s needs.’

Mr Courtney said concerns over joint-crewing were ‘over-hyped,’ saying once the boats were handed over, the submarines would be under ‘Australian control’.

‘Everyone understands we need to train up the Australian sailors and officers in terms of nuclear propulsion,’ he said.

‘When the time comes for the deeds of the title to be handed to the Government of Australia of a vessel, it is going to be totally, with the full understanding that it’s going to be under Australian control.’

Asked if Australia would get second-hand submarines or brand new ones, Mr Courtney reassured that the country would get the ‘highest quality’.

‘The shelf life of a Virginia class submarine is 33 years,’ he said. 

‘It has a nuclear reactor, it doesn’t require refuelling.

‘No one’s going to be foisting off clunkers to good friends and allies. This is about having the type of stealth, the type of reach, which the strategic environment requires.’

Mr Courtney said the upgrade was necessary considering the missiles being produced by China and the ranges they can be flown. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to make the formal announcement on Monday

Port Kembla in NSW, has emerged as Defence’s preferred location for a new east-coast submarine base, according to the ABC.

It is reportedly favoured because of its deep ocean approaches and surrounding infrastructure.

Mr Albanese left India on Saturday for the United States, where he will join President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in San Diego on Monday for the landmark statement.

The three countries first announced the AUKUS plan in 2021 as part of efforts to counter China in the Indo-Pacific region, with the US and United Kingdom agreeing to provide Australia with the capability to deploy nuclear-powered submarines.

Australia is expected to buy up to five US Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines.

It has been speculated there will be multiple stages to the plan, with at least one US submarine visiting Australian ports in the coming years and the advent of a new class of submarines built with British designs and American technology.

On Saturday, Mr Albanese said the project was also about Australian jobs, particularly shipyard and manufacturing work in South Australia and Western Australia.

Asked also about the enormous cost, Mr Albanese said he would explain to the Australian people why it was worthwhile given the deficit hole in the national budget.

US congressman Joe Courtney dismissed the concerns of joint crewing and labelled them ‘over-hyped’ insisting the submarines will be under ‘Australian control’

‘Yes, we will,’ he said in New Delhi before departing for the US.

‘Australia faces real challenges. We have said very clearly and explicitly that there are major pressures on expenditure, not just in defence, but in other areas as well.’

In the lead-up to the 2023/24 budget release in May, Mr Albanese reiterated the government needed to be prepared to ‘make some difficult decisions’.

Mr Albanese last week rejected China’s criticism of the submarine plans, saying Australia could boost its military power while improving relations with Beijing as well as its relationships with other countries in the Indo-Pacific.

‘It’s a consistent position, we need to ensure that Australia’s defence assets are the best they can be,’ he said.

Mr Albanese will also discuss with Mr Biden and Mr Sunak Russia’s war against Ukraine, climate change action and global economic challenges including inflation and energy prices.