Out of pocket and stranded: What happens if Trump pulls out of AUKUS | Four Corners Documentary

Video Description

As the US launches a review into AUKUS, Four Corners examines the future of the $368 billion submarine deal. Reporter Mark Willacy and the Four Corners team travel to Washington, DC to speak with key players inside the Congress and the defence community. One former Trump Defense Secretary says the program is moving too slowly. Now, the Pentagon is reviewing the entire AUKUS deal with fears it might not align with the new administration’s “America First” policy. In London, senior UK figures also sound the alarm. They warn of cost blowouts and delays in building the new AUKUS-class nuclear submarine with Australia. Submerged asks the tough questions about what happens to Australia if Donald Trump decides the AUKUS deal doesn’t serve America’s interests – leaving Australia out of pocket and stranded. CHAPTERS 00:00 – 368-billion-dollar deal 02:58 – Submarines in the United States 05:40 – AUKUS 07:38 – Building submarines 11:05 – Virginia-class nuclear submarine 13:45 – Production rate 16:20 – How Australia could lose everything 17:21 – 800-million-dollar investment 21:20 – Nuclear submarines 24:30 – Will the agreement hold? 27:55 – The new Trump administration 30:00 – Threats 32:12 – Submarines in the United Kingdom 36:20 – Are the submarines too big? This episode was originally broadcast as 'Submerged’ on 16 June 2025 on ABC TV and ABC iview. Note: In most cases, our captions are auto-generated. #ABCNewsIndepth #ABCNewsAustralia #4Corners