Australia and UK ink defence treaty, expand submarine cooperation
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The news: Australia and Britain are deepening their ties in the face of rising Chinese power with a new defence and security agreement.
The numbers: As part of the treaty, the Australian Financial Review reports that Australia is set to invest almost $5 billion to subsidise an expansion of British production lines for Australia’s first nuclear-powered submarines, as well as provide a downpayment on design work for the project.
The context: Australian defence minister, Richard Marles and the UK’s secretary of state of defence, Grant Shapps, signed the treaty following the annual bilateral ministerial defence talks in Canberra on Thursday.
The agreement includes a status of forces agreement, making it easier for the respective forces to operate together in each other’s countries, as well as a range of defence initiatives including the establishment of elevated joint staff talks, continued cooperation on capability development, including through AUKUS, and Australia’s support for the UK’s Littoral Response Group-South and a carrier strike group visit to the Indo-Pacific in 2025.
The agreement also flagged a commitment to develop a joint climate action plan by AUKMIN 2025.
Marles, Shapps and foreign minister Penny Wong are expected to reveal details on the submarine project on Friday.
The deal was inked one day after China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, called for stronger ties with Australia in meetings with Wong and other policymakers in Canberra.
What they said: In a statement released on Thursday, Marles said: “Australia’s relationship with the UK is dynamic and enduring […] From the UK’s leadership of support for Ukraine and efforts to address the Houthi threat, to increasing contributions in the Pacific and the Indo-Pacific, we continue to work closely together to support a global rules-based order.”
The sources: Richard Marles media release, Australian Financial Review
