![]() The weapon sale represents one leg of the three-way AUKUS security agreement signed with Australia and the UK in 2021. Wicker noted that there are currently 49 in the US fleet, calling to step up production to 2.5 Virginia-class submarines per year.Ĭommenting on the hold-up, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles suggested he was not concerned by the GOP opposition, saying he was still “very confident” the submarine transfer would go through. In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal last week, Wicker argued that Washington is slated to transfer three nuclear-powered Virginia-class attack submarines to Canberra “even before we have met our own Navy’s requirements,” citing military reports suggesting the Pentagon needs at least 66 subs. Though Wicker could not say how much spending would be needed to build additional subs, he added that the White House must also approve “a plan for the industrial base to actually get there.” He said he intends to send a letter to US President Joe Biden in the coming days to make his case, alongside fellow Republican Senator Susan Collins. “The president needs to submit a supplemental request to give us an adequate number of submarines.” ![]() “It makes sense to be sure we have enough submarines for our own security needs before we endorse that pillar of the (AUKUS) agreement,” he told the outlet, referring to the submarine sale. ![]() The move is being led by GOP Senator Roger Wicker, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who outlined his rationale during an interview with Politico on Friday, RT reported. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |