This week, Marles was in the US capital to engage in significant defence discussions, notably about the AUKUS nuclear submarine pact, with senior figures from the Trump administration.

His main goal was to hold talks with his direct US opposite – Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The primary aim of Marles’ US trip was to reinforce the AUKUS agreement, which enables Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines from the United States and the United Kingdom.

Back in June, Hegseth revealed that the Pentagon initiated a review of the AUKUS accord due to concerns over potential delays in providing Australia with its first Virginia-class submarine by the early 2030s, as issues with the schedule for American submarine construction persist.

The submarines are expected cost Australia up to $380 billion.

The Trump administration is also urging Australia to boost its defence budget from 2% to 3.5% to adequately confront China’s growing military presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

National Party Senator Bridget McKenzie told Today this morning, securing a sit-down meeting with Hegseth was crucial for the Australian government.

“He [Marles] secures Vance, he secures Rubio. But the one guy he really wanted to sit down with, Secretary of Defence, was a no show.”