UK and Australia sign new defence partnership

The UK and Australia have signed a new 50-year AUKUS treaty, to underpin the UK and Australian submarine programmes, support tens of thousands of jobs in the UK and Australia, enhance both nations’ industrial capacity, and deliver submarines.

The deal is expected to be worth £20 billion to the UK in exports over the next 25 years and create over 7,000 new jobs in the UK.

Defence Secretary, John Healey, said: "AUKUS is one of Britain’s most important defence partnerships, strengthening global security while driving growth at home.

"This historic Treaty confirms our AUKUS commitment for the next half century. Through the Treaty, we are supporting high-skilled, well-paid jobs for tens of thousands of people in both the UK and Australia, delivering on our Plan for Change today and for the generations to come. There are people not yet born who will benefit from the jobs secured through this defence deal.

"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."

Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said: "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. 

"Our new bilateral AUKUS treaty is an embodiment of that - safeguarding a free and open Indo Pacific whilst catalysing growth for both our countries. 

"This is how our government delivers the Plan for Change – protecting our national security and stability whilst generating jobs for Brits."

Healy and Lammy are due to travel to Australi aas the Carrier Strike Group and more than 3,000 British military personnel take part in the largest military exercise Australia has ever hosted.

They will meet their counterparts at the annual “Australia-UK Ministerial”, known as AUKMIN. They will also meet with businesses in Melbourne at the forefront of AUKUS. Then they will travel to Darwin where the Carrier Strike Group docks.