Australia and the United Kingdom have formalized their commitment to the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement, despite an ongoing review by the United States government. This enhancement of bilateral ties took place on Saturday, reinforcing the collaboration established under the AUKUS framework, which was originally formed in 2021 to address concerns regarding China’s military expansion.
Geelong Treaty Marks a New Era
The partnership arrangement, referred to as the Geelong Treaty, is being celebrated as a significant milestone in its own right. It represents a 50-year cooperation agreement between Australia and the UK under the AUKUS banner. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles emphasized that the treaty builds on the “strong foundation of trilateral cooperation” among Australia, the UK, and the United States, supporting their shared objectives within the AUKUS framework.
Marles expressed confidence in the future of US involvement in the agreement, stating, “The Geelong Treaty will enable comprehensive cooperation on the design, build, operation, sustainment, and disposal of our submarines.” He added that it would also facilitate the development of the necessary workforce, infrastructure, and regulatory systems for Australia’s AUKUS program.
Additionally, the treaty supports the rotational presence of a UK Astute-class submarine at HMAS Stirling in Perth, further solidifying military ties between the two nations.
Financial Contributions and Military Exercises
During a press conference in Sydney, Marles highlighted that Australia has contributed two payments of $760 million AUD each to the AUKUS initiative this year. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the relationship between Britain and Australia as “an anchor in what is a very volatile world,” underscoring the stability it offers amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.
UK Secretary of State John Healey expressed confidence in meeting industrial obligations to deliver the SSN-AUKUS submarines and indicated that the US review of the AUKUS agreement should be viewed positively. “Australia and the UK welcome the review because we see this as a chance for a new administration to renew their commitment to AUKUS, and that’s what we expect,” said Healey.
The financial commitment from Australia also includes a $5 billion AUD investment to assist British industry in designing and producing nuclear reactors for the future AUKUS-class submarines. Furthermore, Australia plans to acquire at least three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines from the US in the early 2030s.
In a display of military cooperation, Marles and UK ministers are set to travel to Darwin to observe joint military exercises known as Talisman Sabre. These exercises will involve over 30,000 personnel from 19 different militaries. Notably, the 2025 war games will feature the UK’s Carrier Strike Group, led by the Royal Navy flagship HMS Prince of Wales, marking the first visit of a UK carrier strike group to Australia since 1997.
As the AUKUS partnership continues to evolve, the strengthened ties between Australia and the UK reflect a commitment to shared security and defense objectives in a rapidly changing global landscape.
