Overview

• The Geelong Treaty, signed on July 26 in Geelong, Victoria, commits the UK and Australia to five decades of bilateral SSN-AUKUS submarine cooperation under AUKUS Pillar I.
• It formalizes collaboration on the full submarine lifecycle, encompassing design, construction, operation, sustainment and disposal of nuclear-powered vessels.
• Both governments have initiated workforce training programs, begun shipyard modernization and started building regulatory and sustainment infrastructure under the treaty’s framework.
• The treaty leverages the trilateral AUKUS Naval Nuclear Propulsion Agreement to align supply chains across the UK, Australia and United States while maintaining full compliance with global non-proliferation treaties.
• It envisages Australia building at least eight SSN-AUKUS submarines with BAE Systems and ASC, and the UK constructing up to 12 conventionally armed SSNs, alongside rotational deployments of UK Astute-class vessels at HMAS Stirling.