Former prime minister Tony Abbott has been lobbying senior figures in the US to supply Australia with retiring nuclear submarines to give the nation strike power if conflict over Taiwan breaks out before its AUKUS submarines are delivered.
‘Need more firepower now’: US should give Australia retired nuclear subs, says Abbott
By Paul Sakkal and Jacqueline Maley
Speaking on this masthead’s Inside Politics podcast days after meeting with US Vice-President JD Vance, Abbott revealed his concern that US President Donald Trump’s stance toward the Russian invasion of Ukraine would encourage Chinese expansionism if it led to Vladimir Putin’s success.