Watching the Aussies and the Afghans and the young people from Danville with all their conflicting accents learning side by side to become part of the U.S. submarine industrial base was really positive.

It is a great initiative, and good work moving out on it so quickly.

I think that is a kind of an alliance that is pretty powerful.

I think that is a kind of an alliance that is pretty powerful.

I would like you to talk about the importance of the AUKUS framework in terms of stability and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.

I am a big fan of the AUKUS framework in the Indo-Pacific. I think this announced framework by President Biden of a couple years ago can be extremely powerful, going forward.

I want to thank this committee for working very expeditiously to make that happen.

I want to thank Senator Manchin, Barrasso, and Ranking Member Risch for their bipartisan leadership in getting COFA agreements across the finish line and signed by the President.

That is a lot of work. But it is going to be great work to be able to do together.

The Navy has stood up a manufacturing Center of Excellence in Danville, Virginia, to train the submarine industrial base.

that is a lot of work.

The AUKUS legislation helps to do that.

a very timely one.

I want to thank Senator Manchin, Barrasso, and Ranking Member Risch for their bipartisan leadership in getting COFA agreements across the finish line and signed by the President.

I would like you to talk about the importance of the AUKUS framework in terms of stability and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.

I think that is a kind of an alliance that is pretty powerful.

We have to be present, we have to be active, and we have to bring alternatives to the table.

I want to thank this committee for working very expeditiously to make that happen.