US NDAA’s ‘fine print’ may cause troubles for Australia receiving submarines in future

The Australian’s Washington Correspondent Adam Creighton says the United States National Defence Authorisation Act’s “fine print” may cause troubles for Australia when trying to receive the submarines in the future. Mr Creighton also said the president at the time the transfer of submarines occurs needs to state that it won’t undermine the capacity of the United States. “Congress passed legislation late last year that basically enables the transfer of the power of the nuclear-powered submarines to Australia,” he told Sky News Australia. “Of course, there was much enthusiasm, much excitement back home in Canberra about that and that is all fair enough. “I spoke to some Republican advisors, fairly senior guys who I imagine will be part of the next Republican administration, and they said it would be crazy to transfer the subs at the moment based on the trajectory of US submarine production which is well, well below where it should be.”