Wayne Mapp: Former Defence Minister on whether the US will remain in AUKUS

A former defence minister doesn't believe the US will walk away from the AUKUS security pact altogether. 

The Pentagon's started a review of the agreement between Australia, the UK, and the US, which New Zealand remains open to being involved in. 

Officials will assess whether the deal fits with Donald Trump's America First agenda. 

Wayne Mapp told Mike Hosking the US remains fundamentally committed to the partnership. 

He says Australia is America's closest ally in the Asia Pacific —possibly its closest ally in the whole world— and they're hardly going to trash that relationship. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So a bit of bankster over the Americans announcing this
review of Orcus. They're putting their America first lens over
a big deal in Australia yesterday, given their commitment to it,
Judith Collins went all storm on it. Wayne mapp Is,
a former defense minister, of course, needs back with us.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Wayne. Morning to you, Good morning, Marian.

Speaker 1 (00:14):
I can't work out why we're exercised about this. I mean,
wouldn't you, as a new president put your lens over it?
And when the UK reviewed it, they reviewed it with
alacrity and they said more please, we like it. I mean,
is there anything to be worried about here?

Speaker 2 (00:26):
The fact that it's a third day review instead a
longer would indicate the fundamentally the US that is fundamentally
committed to it. Australia, I reckon is probably their number
one ally, especially in the age of Pacific. They're hardly
going to trash that.

Speaker 1 (00:38):
Relationship exactly, so you would expect them to look at it,
say it's fine, and carry on with it. And presumably
the only thing I could find that could be a
problem is America doesn't make enough subs for themselves, So
could they say, well, look we should make subs for
ourselves instead of you know, making them for other people.
Is that part of it?

Speaker 2 (00:55):
Well, I think the other part is putting a bit
of pressure on Australia for them to boost it means expenditure. Look,
if Australia wants to buy nuclear subs, so they're going
to have to spend a lot more money. There's no
doubt about that.

Speaker 1 (01:06):
And that's where the Males meeting came up the other
day with heg Seth and he was I can't remember
what is number, was three and a half heating the
five or whatever the case may be, is that where
do you think the world is heading more money on defense?
And this is just going to become a thing.

Speaker 2 (01:20):
Yes, it seems to NATO's standard is now going to
be three and a half percent or thereabouts. That's been
pretty clear from all the publicity. NATO seems to be
buying into it. The Americans would expect Australia to kind
of line up with that, and that'll have a techo
on New Zealand as well. Now actually three and a
half percent, but you know we're not going to be
able to keep getting away with one and a half percent.

Speaker 1 (01:42):
Why did Colins go all quiet on it yesterday, What
would be the thinking behind it? And we're not even
part of UCST for God's sake.

Speaker 2 (01:49):
No, but we're connected to it. And look, it's sensible
for her to do that, and I would expect nothing less.
This is an issue really between the United States and
Australia and I guess the UK as well. There's no
need for us to stick out and to that we can.
You know, we're obviously going to be looking at it
carefully that we take a reasonably sensible approach to diplomacy.

Speaker 1 (02:09):
Glad we got that cleared up. Well done, Wine appreciate it.
Whye map form a defense minister.

Speaker 2 (02:13):
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