US submarines carrying nuclear weapons could dock in Australia despite ban, Senate told

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 1 min read 100% complete by Ben DohertyDecember 5, 2025 at 05:59 AM

AI Summary

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During a Senate hearing, Australian defense officials indicated that US submarines carrying nuclear weapons could potentially dock at Australian bases, despite a current ban on nuclear weapons in the country. This revelation appears to contradict previous assurances from Foreign Minister Penny Wong that only conventionally armed submarines would visit Australian ports under the Aukus security pact. The US Virginia-class submarines are scheduled to begin rotating through Australian ports from 2027 as part of the Aukus agreement. The debate centered on whether these submarines, which are set to operate from Australian ports, could be carrying nuclear weapons without the knowledge of the Australian government or its people.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United States ×270% Penny Wong 80%

Keywords

nuclear weapons 100% us submarines 90% aukus agreement 80% australian ports 70% defence secretary 60% virginia-class submarines 50% senate estimates 50% international relations 40%