A key opponent of Australia’s push to buy US nuclear-powered submarines appears to have warmed to the multibillion-dollar deal months after ordering a review of the plan for the new Trump administration.

In June senior Pentagon official Elbridge Colby began a snap examination into the proposed transfer of the prized military technology, to ensure the move aligned with President Donald Trump’s “America first” agenda.

Prior to becoming the US Under Secretary of War for Policy, Mr Colby was vocal in his scepticism of the $368 billion AUKUS partnership, telling The Nightly last year: “My concern is why are we giving away this crown jewel asset when we most need it?”

On Tuesday, Japanese news outlet Nikkei Asia reported that the Trump administration still intends to maintain its original t

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