<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Pentagon has finished its review of the AUKUS defence pact between Australia, the US and UK, confirming it aims to proceed with the agreement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Under the $368 billion deal, Australia will acquire nuclear-powered, but not nuclear-armed, submarines to help confront China's rising military power in the Indo-Pacific.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Today, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced the US still aims to "move forward with the historic and ambitious AUKUS agenda".</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/shots-fired-police-operation-gregory-hills-south-west-sydney-camden/db4ca8d8-b1d6-447e-a094-c059e68c4bff" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'Balaclavas on their heads and handguns': Shooting erupts at gym</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Earlier this year, US officials announced they were reviewing the terms of the agreement, signed by the three allies in 2021, amid concerns it did not meet US President Donald Trump's "America first" policies.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Parnell said the review identified "opportunities to put AUKUS on the strongest possible footing".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>No details of what these were were provided.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/aukus-review-completed-by-pentagon/8e13903c-56aa-46e7-964f-765ab5486473" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Defence Minister Richard Marles said yesterday the federal government had received the document, but gave no information about its contents.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>US Congressman Joe Courtney, a key backer of AUKUS in Washington DC, said in a media release the report "fully endorses" the tri-nation agreement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/fbi-makes-arrest-in-investigation-into-pipe-bombs-placed-in-dc-on-eve-of-january-6-riot-ap-source-says/7e44b8ac-1a90-407a-91be-56e731e8350e" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>FBI makes arrest over pipe bombs placed in DC on eve of January 6 riot</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A member of the House Armed Services Committee that had received the review, he said AUKUS was in harmony with Trump's defence and security policies.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is important to note that the 2021 AUKUS agreement has now survived three changes of government in all three nations and still stands strong," said Courtney.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said the current policy of Australia receiving three US-built Virginia nuclear submarines by the next decade was on track.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But Courtney also said the findings of the report highlighted "critical deadlines" all three countries must achieve to ensure success.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span></span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: 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</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>