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UK and Australia Strengthen AUKUS Ties Amid US Review
26 Jul
Summary
- Britain and Australia sign Geelong Treaty to bolster AUKUS nuclear submarine deal
- Australia to pay $5 billion to support UK in designing and producing nuclear reactors
- UK confident it can meet industrial capacity to deliver AUKUS submarines
In a move to bolster the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement, Britain and Australia have signed the Geelong Treaty, a historic pact that represents a 50-year cooperation arrangement under the AUKUS banner. The agreement, signed by Defence Minister Richard Marles and UK Secretary of State John Healey, builds on the "strong foundation of trilateral cooperation" between Australia, the UK, and the United States.
Despite ongoing concerns about the future of the $560 billion AUKUS deal, the two allies remain confident in the partnership. The Geelong Treaty will enable comprehensive cooperation on the design, build, operation, sustainment, and disposal of Australia's future nuclear-powered attack submarines, which are expected to be acquired in the 2040s. Additionally, Australia will pay $5 billion to support British industry in designing and producing the nuclear reactors to power these submarines.
Separately, Australia will also acquire at least three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines from the US in the early 2030s, further strengthening its naval capabilities. The UK, for its part, has expressed confidence in its ability to meet its industrial obligations to deliver the SSN-AUKUS submarines, undeterred by the ongoing US review of the pact.
The deepening of the AUKUS partnership comes as the three nations prepare for the 2025 Talisman Sabre war games, which will involve the UK's Carrier Strike Group and more than 30,000 personnel from 19 militaries. This exercise underscores the growing military cooperation between the allies, solidifying their commitment to addressing regional security challenges.
