Australia's Submarines: US Quietly, Strongly Urges Japanese Option

 

Washington's position always has been the decision is entirely Australia's to make, and it does not want to interfere in any way. It further took the view that, with Germany, France and Japan all being US allies, it was not going to be disobliging to any of the three.

 

However, privately, the Americans are clear they see enormous benefit in Canberra choosing the Japanese option, both for the quality of the submarine involved and for the development of deeper strategic, maritime co-operation between Canberra, Washington and Tokyo. It is understood Admiral Harry Harris, the commander of the US Pacific Command in Hawaii, has expressed this view in numerous private discussions.

 

The submarines will likely cost $50 billion to buy and build, and perhaps twice that over their lifetime to sustain, making them the biggest defence project in our ­history, and one of the biggest in the world.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/defence/buy-your-submarines-from-japan-says-us/news-story/b5c46143525ff1f5531b3b706ca2e160