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The embattled AUKUS pact was given renewed hope after US President Donald Trump offered a peachy endorsement during Anthony Albanese's White House visit. One labelled a "terrible deal" by former PM Malcolm Turnbull, the AUKUS partnership has hung in the balance while optimism the US government will actually deliver nuclear submarines to Australia began to fade. Albanese's mission to extricate a verbal agreement from Trump has been hailed a success – now questions linger over what it means for our sovereign military capability. READ MORE: UK PM backs inquiry into Prince Andrew's rent-free mansion READ MORE: Footage shows moment Russian drone strikes Ukrainian kindergarten "There shouldn't be any more clarifications because we're just going full steam ahead building," Trump told the PM in a surprisingly full-throated assurance. "We have the best submarines anywhere in the world and we're building a few more, under construction. "Now we're starting, we have it all set, with Anthony we've worked on this long and hard and we're starting that process right now and I think it's really moving along really rapidly, very well." However, any celebration about the future success of AUKUS may be premature, nuclear policy specialist and UNSW honorary professor Wayne Reynolds told 9news.com.au. "All I've heard is Trump saying, no, AUKUS is going to go ahead full speed. Well, why shouldn't it?" Reynolds said. "These submarines are Virginia class. There is no technology transfer. We're spending billions. "They've got a base in Western Australia, which we're largely funding. They're rotating their submarines, and they've got us locked into an American strategy with respect to China. "Why would you say no?" Australia has already forked out $1.5 billion in the AUKUS pact, with another $1.5 billion to go in 2025, to acquire nuclear-powered but conventionally armed submarines. A fresh Pentagon promise of a ghost fleet has given some much-needed fuel to a spluttering fire. But Reynolds said the bigger question the Australian government needs to answer is how US-led submarines can fit into our long-term defence strategy. READ MORE: Two men drown after being swept from Melbourne pier in extreme weather "I think there are legitimate questions about not only the affordability, but the capability," Reynolds said. "Are these submarines the right answer? The question would be, well, where's [our] sovereign capability if the Americans decide to go on the attack? "I think that needs to be investigated." The next crucial step should be clearly defining Australia's role once the submarines are delivered in the early 2030s, Reynolds said. Particularly, he warned, with our strategy on China. "Most people in the defence industries here, they're still scratching their heads about, well, what's our role?" Reynolds added. "If there is a war with China, if, are we in a position to utilise our submarines? "If we've got American equipment, we are under American command." Back in Canberra, Richard Marles was noticeably excited by Trump's assurance. If he still had any doubts – the defence minister hid them well. "You can touch, feel and see AUKUS occurring. AUKUS is happening," Marles said in Adelaide on Tuesday. "The remarks from President Trump last night are certainly the words that we've been looking for and affirmation from the Trump administration of their enthusiasm for the AUKUS endeavour." DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
