The future of Australia's nuclear submarines remains bright despite dramatic developments in American and British politics, the acting prime minister has assured.
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In recent weeks, Britain has voted in the Labour Party following 14 years of conservative government, while US President Joe Biden announced he would not seek re-election a week after an assassination attempt on his Republican opponent Donald Trump.
The events have cast doubts over whether the strategic AUKUS partnership between Australia, the US and UK can deliver eight nuclear-powered submarines by the 2050s.
Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles said the vessels were on-track to emerge from the political tempest.
The Submarine Rotational Force - West, where one UK and up to four US nuclear-powered submarines will have a rotational presence at a navy base on Australia's west coast, is developing particularly well.
"We are really confident of how it's progressing and that confidence is underpinned by the commitment that exists across all three countries," Mr Marles told Sky News on Wednesday.
In December, a bill relating to the AUKUS deal passed the US Senate with bipartisan support, quashing submarine concerns should Mr Trump return to the Oval Office after a November election win.
"Irrespective of what occurs in November of this year, we can look forward to the alliance being as strong as ever," Mr Marles said.
"What we're seeing play out in America - and of course, we're all riveted by it - but it's really important that we give America the space.
"That's what it is to respect them as a democracy".
The heads of navies from Australia, the US and UK are front and centre as part of the Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference, which started in Perth on Wednesday.
More than 400 delegates from across the region have come together at the two-day summit, with the AUKUS partnership firmly on the agenda.
Under the alliance, Australia will acquire three Virginia class vessels from the US before nuclear vessels are built domestically.
The plan is expected to cost up to $368 billion.
The expedited acquisition of 18 medium landing crafts, which will cost $2 billion, has also been floated as an important step to boosting Australia's maritime capability.
Australia's Navy chief Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, US counterpart Admiral Lisa Marie Franchetti and Admiral Ben Key from the UK are among headliners addressing the summit.
Vice Admiral Hammond said the conference was focused on the role of the Indian Ocean in Australia's prosperity.
"It's much broader than the issue of China, which tends to overshadow many things in our region," he told ABC radio.
On Thursday, Labor unveiled its new $210 million upgrades at Darwin's naval base, creating capacity to launch AUKUS submarines from Australia's north.
Strategically placed on the shores of Darwin harbour, HMAS Coonawarra, was identified in defence's strategic review last year as a key place to strengthen military power over the next decade.
Assistant Minister for Defence Matt Thistlethwaite said the investment was about "building for the future".
"We're building for growth and we're building for increased capacity. This will be able to take submarines into the future including our nuclear-propelled submarines.
"It will be able to take some of the elements of our new surface combatant fleet," he said.
"We're investing in facilities now that will deliver growth and safety to the Australian community into the future and this wharf development is an important part of that, and the broader Larrakia defence precinct upgrades."
This comes as the Northern Territory hosts biennial international air combat activity Exercise Pitch Black, which has more than 4000 personnel from 20 nations participating.
Late on Wednesday Mr Marles confirmed that an international aircraft taking part in the exercise had crashed, with its pilot ejecting prior to impact and avoiding serious injury.
Australian Associated Press
