Turnbull says AUKUS deal may deliver no submarines to Australia

US submarine output needs to nearly double, Turnbull says

Former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull told a public inquiry that the AUKUS deal involving Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom will probably result in no submarines for Australia.

The Guardian reported Turnbull’s comments in a video report published Aug. 10. Turnbull described faith in the deal as “stark staring bonkers.”

Turnbull said the United States’ capacity for building submarines had remained “stubbornly laggard.” He said the United States needs to nearly double its submarine production rate, from 1.2 submarines a year to 2.3.

Turnbull also pointed to U.S. legislation governing submarine sales. He said the legislation prevents the United States from selling submarines to Australia if doing so would “degrade” its own fleet.

Turnbull cited the United States’ production rate and the legislation as reasons for his assessment of the deal’s likely outcome. His comments concerned the AUKUS deal between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.