New 50-year Aukus defence pact secures future fleet of nuclear subs for UK and Oz
A new 50-year Aukus treaty that will underpin the UK and Australian submarine programmes has been signed by the Defence Secretary and Foreign Secretary in Australia.
Aukus, a security pact between Australia, the UK and the US, will deliver conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, designed to keep the UK and its allies safe.
The boats, known as SSN-Aukus, will be the largest, most advanced and most powerful submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy.
The submarines are scheduled to enter service with the Royal Navy in the late 2030s and with the Royal Australian Navy in the early 2040s.
"Aukus is one of Britain's most important defence partnerships, strengthening global security while driving growth at home," Defence Secretary John Healey said.
"This historic treaty confirms our Aukus commitment for the next half-century.
"Our deep defence relationship with Australia – from our work together to support Ukraine, share vital intelligence, and develop innovative technology – makes us secure at home and strong abroad."
Mr Healey and Foreign Secretary David Lammy are in Australia at the same time as Carrier Strike Group 25, and more than 3,000 British personnel are taking part in the largest military exercise Australia has ever hosted, Exercise Talisman Sabre.
The pair's visit comes after the exercise's success, where the Aukus nations worked with Japan on advancing how robotics and autonomous systems are used in defence systems.
Both ministers have met their counterparts at the annual "Australia-UK Ministerial", commonly referred to as Aukmin, where they agreed to deepen cooperation on defence and security.
"The UK-Australia relationship is like no other, and in our increasingly volatile and dangerous world, our anchoring friendship has real impact in the protection of global peace and prosperity," Mr Lammy said.
"Our new bilateral Aukus treaty is an embodiment of that – safeguarding a free and open Indo-Pacific whilst catalysing growth for both our countries."
The Foreign and Defence secretaries will later visit Darwin, a city on the northern tip of Australia, to see the Carrier Strike Group 25 as the vessels dock in the Northern Territory.
There they will board the Royal Navy's flagship, HMS Prince of Wales, to meet personnel who have participated in Ex Talisman Sabre, one of the largest military exercises in the world this year.
More than 35,000 military personnel from 19 nations are involved in the training, which is in full swing across Australia on sea, land, and in the air.
Personnel are working on drills focusing on live-fire exercises, field training exercises, amphibious landings, ground force manoeuvres, air combat and maritime operations.
The CSG25 deployment, also known as Operation Highmast, involves around 4,500 British military personnel, including nearly 600 RAF and 900 soldiers, alongside 2,500 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines.
Australia marks the final destination of the voyage.
For more reports about Carrier Strike Group 25, click here.
Join Our Newsletter
