US Congress passes foreign military aid package with $5bn boost for Aukus agreement with Australia | Aukus

A United States funding package authorising more military aid for Ukraine and Israel passed by Congress on Tuesday includes a A$5bn boost for the US domestic submarine-building industry that will directly enable the Aukus agreement.

The funding was a condition of congressional endorsement of the Aukus deal and is aimed at ensuring the US can produce Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines for Australia without undermining its own capability requirements.

The US president, Joe Biden, has earmarked a further $17.5bn in funding for the US submarine industrial base over five years, as part of…