Australia defends AUKUS as Washington launches review of sub deal

Open this photo in gallery: Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS Minnesota (SSN-783) off the coast of Western Australia in March. The U.S. is reviewing plans to buy submarines from Australia under a 2023 defence pact.COLIN MURTY/Reuters Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said Thursday he was "very confident" a deal to acquire U.S. nuclear-powered submarines would go ahead, after reports Washington was souring on the plan. In 2023, Australia committed to spending US$239-billion over the next three decades to acquire and build top of the line submarines, as part of the country's biggest ever defence project, alongside the U.S. and Britain….