By Tess Ikonomou in Canberra

The AUKUS partnership looks safe as key members of the Trump administration back an agreement that will ease the United States’ security burden, experts say.

Concerns have been raised over the future of the partnership, struck under the Biden administration, as incoming-president Donald Trump prepares for his inauguration.

The president-elect is yet to comment publicly on the $368 billion program.

The Congressional Research Service has previously warned of cost blowouts and delays as the US submarine industrial base comes under increasing pressure.

Australia is set to acquire at least three second-hand Virginia-class submarines from the US in the early 2030s, with a new class of nuclear-powered boats to be built for delivery from the 2040s.

Australia is in a “really good position” with people in important positions backing the partnership, Peter Dean from the University of Sydney’s United States Studies Centre said.

“I’d be very, very surprised if Trump himself didn’t continue the AUKUS deal … and all the indicators are that he will,” he told AAP.

“But the caveat for everything with President Trump is he’s very material, so we’ll have to wait and see.”

AUKUS allowed the transferring of technology to Australia, which would increase the military capabilities of America’s allies, Professor Dean said.

“He (Trump) wants more capable allies who lift more of the burden or and relieve some of the pressure from the United States,” he said.

“One of the key ways of doing that is sharing with countries like Australia, with close partnerships key technologies.”

The president-elect’s pick for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, confirmed support for AUKUS during his Senate confirmation hearings.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia had taken the unprecedented step of making a “significant contribution” to the American industrial base to improve production rates.