Kim Beazley, Australia’s former ambassador to the US, has called for the AUKUS deal to be beefed up with a new pact on critical minerals, which have emerged as a selling point to solidify the Trump administration’s support for the submarine deal ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to Washington next month.

Beazley, also a former defence minister and opposition leader, said Australia had a unique chance to leverage its supply of rare earths to feed American demand as the US searched for supply chains which do not involve China.

Minerals are vital components of radar and laser systems used in modern military technology such as fighter jets, submarines and drones. Beazley urged Albanese to create a third pillar of AUKUS, on top of strategic co-operation and a deal on nuclear

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