Blumenthal Statement on Australia's Purchase of Nuclear Submarines

[HARTFORD, CT] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement in response to President Biden's expected announcement of a landmark purchase and training agreement with Australia and the United Kingdom under which Australia will purchase as many as five Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines from the United States:

“This deal is truly historic – big and bold in its critical allied commitment to undersea defense in the Pacific. The agreement is a global investment in Connecticut’s submarine workers, whose skill and dedication are unmatched worldwide. American shipbuilders and sailors will be critical to making AUKUS work — both constructing Virginia Class submarines and training our allies to operate and maintain them. The Navy now must work harder to expand and extend our submarine workforce, as we continue to build two Virginia-class boats a year as well as the Australian submarines. The challenges ahead are formidable – recruiting and training workers, imparting skills to allies, protecting transferred technology, and others – but I am confident that these three great allies will succeed.” 

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