Australia’s ambitious AUKUS submarine plan faced fresh scrutiny as delays, costs and capacity doubts mounted. Billions had been committed to the U.S. and U.K., yet no boats had arrived. Backlogs in American shipyards and strain in the British fleet fueled fears that timelines could slip further. Critics questioned transparency and whether Canberra carried too much burden. Some in Washington even debated keeping submarines for U.S. needs first. As China’s rise shaped regional strategy, Australia’s deterrence plans entered uncertain waters. Was AUKUS a masterstroke or a risky wager?