Green Bay Reporter

On September 14, 2023, Rep. Mike Gallagher and Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02), Co-Chairs of the AUKUS Working Group and Friends of Australia Caucus, issued the following joint statement to mark the two-year anniversary of the trilateral security agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.  

“It marks two years since the historic announcement of the trilateral AUKUS security agreement and a path to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. Since September of 2021, bipartisan lawmakers in Congress and the Administration have worked together to fulfill the AUKUS mission through record investments in the submarine industrial base, legislation to clear legal roadblocks, development of next-generation technologies, and ongoing engagements with our partners and allies. 

“These efforts are already paying dividends. Shipyards and submarine suppliers across the nation are aggressively hiring and working to meet demand; the first wave of Australian sailors graduated from Nuclear Power School in South Carolina, thanks to our enabling legislation; and our Australian and British counterparts are making strategic investments in support of the unbreakable alliance to strengthen maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.”

“It is time to turbocharge AUKUS to achieve near-term deterrence effects. While we have seen great progress, we have significant work ahead to deliver on AUKUS goals by the ‘earliest possible date’ edict, namely passing and sending Pilar 1 and Pillar 2 enabling legislation to the President’s desk--and adequately resourcing what enables AUKUS’s success. Together, we will continue working expeditiously with our colleagues and partners to achieve that goal, and ensure both our Navy and the AUKUS mission are prepared to deter the security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.”

Original source can be found here.