BIG NEWS - AUUKUS defence deal - nuclear submarines

Australia, the UK and US will announce at 7AM Australia Sydney Time Thursday 16th 2021 the AUUKUS defence pact.

https://www.news.com.au/world/north-america/federal-ministers-fly-to-canberra-amid-big-us-australia-news-announcement/news-story/72b68a5756b0acb81845137c8157951b

Speculation the US/UK will let Australia either:

1. Rent a nuclear submarine (Virginia class from US or UK's ones)
2. Possibly allow docking of a nuclear sub in Western Australia or NT
3. Rent a (FREE)?? submarine ie let Australia borrow it??
4. Possibly build a docking port AND allow US / UK to freely use our ports

ANYWAYS, we'll have to wait for 7AM.

Each Virginia class nuclear submarine uses 9200 pounds or 4173KG of rare earths. It doesn't sound like much, BUT THATS NOT the point. Clearly any new sub or even any docking station / maintanence will require rare earths from "safe" sources - ie not China. AND WHO SUPPLIES rare earths other than China???? Ring any bells????

https://www.airforcemag.com/article/rare-earth-uncertainty/

The cost of each Virginia class sub is $3.4B USD with the payload. We had an agreement with France to build $90B conventional subs, but it looks awfully delayed.