Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has sharply criticized the AUKUS nuclear submarines pact, describing it as a 'terrible' and 'unfair' deal that primarily benefits the United States.

He expressed concerns that Australia may not receive the promised submarines, raising doubts about the future of the trilateral security alliance.

Turnbull pointed out that Australia is investing $3 billion to support the US submarine industrial base without any guarantees of receiving submarines in return.

He noted that the deal, initiated by his successor Scott Morrison and supported by the Albanese government, requires Australia to purchase three to five Virginia-class submarines from the US at a staggering estimated cost of up to $368 billion.

The agreement stipulates that before any submarine transfer occurs, the US President must certify that it will not compromise the US Navy's undersea capabilities, which are currently deemed crucial.

This requirement raises further concerns, especially as the US Navy is currently operating with fewer submarines than desired.

Turnbull warned that the most likely outcome of AUKUS could leave Australia without its own submarines, forcing reliance on US submarines, which could compromise both sovereignty and security.

He argued that Australia is spending significantly more on the AUKUS deal compared to what it would have under the previous French contract, with a high likelihood of ending up without any submarines at all.

Despite assurances from Washington, London, and Canberra about the strength of the AUKUS alliance, anxiety is growing in Australia regarding potential delays or failures in receiving the submarines.

Turnbull's remarks came during an unscheduled interview at Parliament House, where he emphasized the perceived inadequacies of the AUKUS arrangement.

He criticized the 2021 agreement made by his successor, which abandoned a previous deal with France for submarines, lamenting the loss of sovereignty and security.

Ultimately, Turnbull believes that the deal is detrimental, costing Australia a significant amount of money while undermining its national interests.