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UK and Australia Sign 50-Year Treaty to Deepen AUKUS Submarine Partnership

The treaty comes after Australia’s latest A$800 million payment to bolster US shipyards.

British Defence Secretary John Healey stands with the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong at Lancaster House ahead of the annual Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) meeting on December 16, 2024 in London, Britain. Dan Kitwood/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
The Pentagon building is seen in Arlington, Virginia, U.S. October 9, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo
Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS Minnesota (SSN-783) is seen off the coast of Western Australia, Australia March 16, 2025. COLIN MURTY/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
The Royal Australian Navy submarine HMAS Rankin. The country’s fleet is to be augmented by nuclear-powered submarines built in the UK, which are expected to enter service in the late 2030s

Overview

  • Britain and Australia formalized a 50-year bilateral accord to underpin AUKUS submarine programs and support up to £20 billion in British exports.
  • Canberra has contributed A$1.6 billion so far, delivering a second A$800 million installment this quarter as part of its A$2 billion pledge by year-end.
  • The Pentagon’s open-ended review led by Under Secretary Elbridge Colby continues to evaluate whether the pact aligns with “America First” industrial and strategic priorities.
  • Republican John Moolenaar and Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi urged Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a bipartisan letter to sustain the trilateral pact as a key deterrent against China.
  • Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong will host UK counterparts in Sydney and then travel to Darwin for AUKMIN consultations during the Talisman Sabre exercises.