<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The option of the Pentagon choosing not to sell nuclear-powered submarines to Australia under the AUKUS agreement has been put to US politicians.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia is set to acquire nuclear-propelled (but conventionally armed) subsunder the $368 billion defence pact with the United States and United Kingdom.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But a </span><a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/RL32418" rel="" target="_blank" title="US Congressional Research Office report"><span>US Congressional Research Office report</span></a><span> has raised the scenario of the three to five American-built Virginia-class submarines earmarked for the ADF being retained under US command and operated from Australian bases.</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/world/xi-jinping-and-vladimir-putin-closer-ties/824484ee-4654-4ba0-818d-4833b0614729" rel="" target="_blank" title="'Global turbulence' pushing China and Russia closer"><strong><span>'Global turbulence' pushing China and Russia closer</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The policy research arm for Congress members highlights the importance of the Pentagon maintaining control of the submarines if a war between China and the US breaks out over Taiwan.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The document, published late last month, refers to comments by Defence Minister Richard Marles from 2023.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Australia's government made no promises to the United States that Australia would support the United States in a future conflict over Taiwan," the report said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/aukus-submarines-could-not-be-sold-to-australia-new-us-congressional-report/6d2b3916-ffc7-4a82-bacc-3d50c114c9b5" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>AUKUS was signed five years ago in a moved aimed at deterring China's assertiveness in the Pacific.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the researchers suggest selling nuclear-powered attack submarines, or SSNs, to Australia may not achieve this.</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/germany-nuclear-weapons-france-uk-us-news-world-news/ad38aa1b-e766-4406-ba5a-f72075a5e5a8" rel="" target="_blank" title="Germany considering obtaining its own nuclear weapons"><strong><span>Germany considering obtaining its own nuclear weapons</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Selling three to five Virginia-class SSNs to Australia would thus convert those SSNs from boats that would be available for use in a US-China crisis or conflict into boats that might not be available for use in a US-China crisis or conflict," the study argues.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This could weaken rather than strengthen deterrence and warfighting capability in connection with a US-China crisis or conflict."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The US-built Virginia-class submarines are scheduled to enter service with the Australian navy by 2032, before it receives eight newly designed and built SSN-AUKUS vessels.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In the scenario of Australia not receiving the submarines, defence chiefs could instead use the billions of dollars on acquiring new advanced weapons, the report proposes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They include long-range anti-ship missiles, drones, loitering munitions, long-range bombers or systems for defending Australia against attack.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Doubt over the future of AUKUS emerged last January when US President Donald Trump was sworn in. He ordered a review of the defence pact, concerned it did not meet his "America first" agenda.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There was also concern the US shipbuilding industry would struggle to meet the delivery schedule for the Virginia-class subs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The agreement hung in the balance for months until the Pentagon gave the green light in September. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Later, Trump warmly endorsed AUKUS when he hosted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There shouldn't be any more clarifications because we're just going full steam ahead building," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Marles was today quizzed about the US Congressional Research Office report.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You're going to hear a whole lot of commentary at the end of the day from the US Congress," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Yeah, we're working with the US administration, and we've heard the United States President make clear the position of the United States in respect of this question, and he has said that we are full steam ahead in respect of this, and it includes the transfer of the Virginias."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><p><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></a><span> </span><strong><span>and</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></a></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=9news.com.au"><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></a></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine"><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></a></p></li></ul></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span></span></div></div>