PM almost aces it with President Trump

After months of on-again off-again efforts, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese finally secured a successful meeting with US President Donald Trump. The two leaders sealed a $A13 billion critical minerals and rare earths agreement – crucial to a range of Defence applications. The move was designed to address a stranglehold on the vital minerals by China and generate more supplies for the US, Australia, and the West. President Donald Trump also gave a glowing endorsement of AUKUS. Fears had been held that a Pentagon review of AUKUS, results still pending, would see a key tenet dropped. That was the commitment by the US to sell Australia three to five nuclear powered, conventionally armed submarines from 2032, due to production constraints. But President Trump assured Prime Minister Albanese, Australia would get those submarines. However, President Trump gave Australia a leave pass on Defence spending saying while he would like Australia to spend more, he had to take in to account its current effort including $12

US praises Australia on Defence co-operation

The White House issued a factsheet in the wake of President Trump’s meeting with his Australian counterpart praising Australia’s Defence efforts on several fronts. This included Australia agreeing to purchase $1.2 billion in Anduril unmanned underwater vehicles and take delivery of the first tranche of Apache helicopters in a separate $2.6 billion deal. Australia since February, contributing $1 billion to the U.S. Government to expand and modernize the U.S. submarine industrial base, with another $1 billion by the end of the year. (An initiative which bugs local industry which believes Australia should look after its own first). The base initiative is characterised as representing a strengthening the AUKUS trilateral security partnership. The statement also praised Australia for investing in integrated air and missile defense capabilities, including $2 billion in U.S. companies, for its Joint Air Battle Management System. It also noted the U.S.-Australia alliance was securing munitions supply-chain resilienc

Conroy backs in submarine supply chain work

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy has backed more opportunities for Australian businesses to secure high-value manufacturing contracts in the United States submarine industrial base. The Albanese Government has provided $19 million investment in the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification (AUSSQ) Pilot. HII Australia was awarded an initial $9.6 million contract to deliver the pilot phase of the AUSSQ program in March 2025, and this week saw a further investment of $9.3 million to deliver additional work packages. The initial phase of the program, delivered by H&B Defence—a HII and Babcock joint venture—focused on prospective Australian businesses in castings and forgings, and precision machining. This second tranche will focus on uplift activities involving air and gas flasks and fabricated parts. AUSSQ is helping local companies become approved suppliers to HII, the largest military shipbuilder in the US and one of two companies that builds US nuclear-powered submarines. Twenty-two Australian businesses are already taking part, with eight now fully qualified: MacTaggart Scott Australia; Levett Engineering; Century Engineering; H E Parts International; Veem; Hofmann Engineering; Dobbie; and MTA. A further three of the 22 participating businesses have now been invited to quote for work in the US supply chain, Hofmann Engineering; Veem; and Axiom. AUSSQ complements the Defence Industry Vendor Qualification Program (DIVQ) and is part of a broader effort to grow Australia’s defence industrial base. These programs are providing hands-on support to help Australian businesses get

Australia protests over Chinese fighter tactics

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles said a formal diplomatic protest had been lodged with Beijing after a Chinese PLA Air Force fighter jet released flares near an Australian P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft. DPM Marles said the actions of the Chinese pilot were unprofessional and unsafe and if was fortunate that no one had been harmed in the incident. The RAAF surveillance aircraft had been patrolling above the South China Sea but in international airspace. This is the latest in a series of encounters between the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Chinese military, which has deployed flares and released chaff near Australian aircraft before as well as deploying sonar when Australian divers were in the water. Analysts suggest China is trying to force Australia and other Western nations out of the contested waters of the South China Sea, as well as from other maritime areas near the Chinese mainland. China predictably accused the RAAF aircraft of violating China’s airspace.

AIDN and ASPI champion women in Defence

The Australian Industry and Defence Network ACT and Australian Strategic Policy Institute Women’s Defence and Security Network have joined forces to promote the role of women in the security sector, with a special event in Canberra on Wednesday. The HER Influence event will be held in the ASPI Auditorium from 4.30 to 7pm. The forum will bring together women from across Australia’s defence, aerospace, and security sectors. ASPI’s Dr Raji Rajagopalan will lead a panel discussion featuring leading voices including Lilianne Fan and Adelina Kamal from the Southeast Asian Women Peace Mediators (SEAWPM) and Wing Commander and Gender, Peace and Security Advisor, Catherine Humphries from the Australian Defence Force. Tickets are still available, and the event includes refreshments, a panel discussion, and a networking reception.