The Real Costs of AUKUS

The AUKUS agreement between Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom is set to reshape Australia's military and strategic future through the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines. But the implications of AUKUS extend far beyond defence, with significant consequences for Australia's economy, diplomacy, industry, and foreign relations. As the project moves from ambition to implementation, important questions remain. Can Australia deliver an undertaking of this scale and complexity? What are the costs, risks, and strategic trade-offs involved? And if the project does not proceed according to plan, what alternatives are available? The launch of the new issue of Australian Foreign Affairs. Panel: Professor Bec Strating (Director, La Trobe Centre for Global Security) Hon Peter Khalil MP (Assistant Minister for Defence, Australia) Assoc. Professor Yee-Fui Ng (Director (Higher Degree by Research), Monash University) Dr Samuel Bashfield (Research Fellow, La Trobe Centre for Global Security) Recorded on 20th July, 2026.