Australia has announced that it has signed a long-term agreement with the United Kingdom (UK) to strengthen cooperation within the AUKUS nuclear submarine partnership.
The agreement, signed by Australian Minister of Defense Richard Marles and Secretary of State for Defence of the UK John Healey in Geelong, Victoria, sets the framework for 50 years of cooperation.
“This afternoon I met with the Secretary of State for Defence of the UK to sign the Geelong Treaty – a historic agreement between Australia and the UK that will enable us to closely cooperate on the delivery of AUKUS over the next fifty years,” Marles stated on the platform X.
“Our close friendship with the UK is crucial for maintaining security and stability in the region and globally,” he added.
The agreement includes “comprehensive cooperation” on the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and disposal of SSN-AUKUS submarines, as well as the development of personnel, infrastructure, and systems required for the program.
Earlier, in September 2021, the United States (U.S.), the UK, and Australia signed the AUKUS pact, under which Canberra would receive nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy.
U.S. President Donald Trump launched a review of the AUKUS pact worth 368 billion Australian dollars (247 billion U.S. dollars) in June to assess whether it aligns with his “America First” policy priorities.
However, on Friday, the UK and Australia agreed to sign a new bilateral pact during a meeting of the foreign and defense ministers of both countries, held in the eastern Australian city of Sydney.
Photo: Militar Aktuel
