The Australian ambassador to the United States is “confident” that both countries will work through the Defense Department’s review of the 2021 AUKUS agreement between them and the United Kingdom.

“We are confident that we’ll work our way through each and every one of the issues, which [U.S. officials have] raised in the context of this internal Defense Department,” Kevin Rudd, the Australian ambassador to the U.S. and former prime minister, said on Friday at the Aspen Security Forum.

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He downplayed the Pentagon review into the nuclear-powered attack submarine deal, noting the two countries’ alliance dates back nearly a hundred years.

“Every major war in the 20th century into the 21st century, we’re the crazy guys in the foxholes next to you,” Rudd added. “So I think history does speak for something and our alliance and alliance obligations for the United States have endured over 15 prime ministers, including yours truly, and 15 American presidents.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed to lawmakers last month that there is a Defense Department review into the partnership following his “long, personal conversations about the status of this arrangement” with British Defense Secretary John Healey and Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles.

Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby is leading the review.

Last August, prior to assuming his role in the Pentagon, Colby acknowledged he was “skeptical” about the AUKUS agreement, even though he added, “in principle, it’s a great idea.” He also said at the time, “Usual caveat here that I make no presumptions about any future role for myself and only speak for myself.”

The Trump administration has pressured U.S. allies across the globe, Australia included, to increase defense spending and for them to do better at burden sharing.

Hegseth told Marles that Australia should increase its defense spending “as soon as possible” to 3.5% of the country’s gross domestic product in late May on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, according to a Pentagon readout of the meeting.

“The prime minister has been absolutely clear-cut,” Rudd said of Anthony Albanese. “We will continue to invest, to fund, and expand that which we need to do in defense of Australia’s national interests, as is required in the years ahead.”

The U.S. is also seeking to bolster its presence in the Pacific region and wants Europe to take the lead on its national security so the U.S. can focus on the growing threat from Beijing.

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“As the Department has made abundantly and consistently clear, we at DOD are focused on implementing the president’s ‘America First,’ commonsense agenda of restoring deterrence and achieving peace through strength,” Colby said last week. “That includes by urging allies to step up their defense spending and other efforts related to our collective defense. This has been a hallmark of President Trump’s strategy — in Asia as in Europe, where it has already been tremendously successful.”

Colby reportedly pressed Japanese and Australian officials to clearly explain what role they would play if the U.S. went to war against China over Taiwan, according to the Financial Times.