Australia rejects backup plan as AUKUS submarine concerns grow
Australia's defence minister has rejected calls for a backup plan if the AUKUS submarine programme fails, saying the country must stay the course on what he described as an enormous task. Richard Marles made the remarks at the Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference and Exhibition in Perth, where he was questioned about the pace and risks of the long-running plan. He said changing course again would amount to giving up on the goal of acquiring a new fleet of long-range submarines.Marles said Australia had no "plan B" and that "chopping and changing" would leave the country in an unthinkable... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 27 May 2026 08:30 LONDON
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Australian navy chief says Chinese flotilla in Tasman Sea had political impact
Australia's outgoing Chief of Navy has said a Chinese naval flotilla that entered the Tasman Sea last year had a political impact in both Australia and New Zealand. Vice Admiral Mark Hammond made the remarks at the Indian Ocean Defence and Security conference in Perth, where he also defended the AUKUS submarine partnership. He said the deployment triggered anxiety in Australia and anger in New Zealand, and influenced debate over defence spending.Hammond, who is due to become the new Chief of the Defence Force within weeks, said the incident took place during a federal election campaign in Australia and during... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 26 May 2026 08:30 LONDON
