Australia and the UK to Sign 50-Year New Treaty to Strengthen AUKUS Agreement Submarine Project: British Defense Minister Says Commitment to Australia is Absolute

On Friday, the UK's Defense Minister Healey stated that the UK's commitment to Australia was "absolute." On the same day, the foreign and defense ministers of the two countries held a ministerial consultation meeting in Sydney to discuss deepening commitments to the Australia-United Kingdom-United States Security Partnership (AUKUS, also known as the AUKUS agreement) and other issues.

Healey and the UK Foreign Secretary Lambo met with Australian Prime Minister Albanese in Sydney. The focus of the talks was to strengthen bilateral trade relations and advance the AUKUS agreement to help Australia acquire a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. The US Department of Defense is reviewing the three-party agreement reached in 2021 and urging Australia to increase its defense spending.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Marles said that the submarine production treaty to be signed with the UK on Saturday is the most important treaty signed between the two countries since the establishment of the Australian Federation in 1901. The UK Ministry of Defense claimed that the new treaty will support the UK's submarine program for the next 50 years, creating tens of thousands of jobs, and is expected to bring up to £2 billion in exports to the UK over the next 25 years.

Australia and the UK emphasized that the new treaty would not affect the AUKUS partnership. Marles said at a press conference by Sydney Harbour on Friday that the bilateral treaty to be signed in Geelong near Melbourne would "greatly consolidate the development of the AUKUS partnership," and "we will sign this extremely important treaty tomorrow."

Healey said, "Our commitment to Australia is absolute." He mentioned that the armed forces of the two countries are deepening their ties to address growing uncertainties and threats. He added, "This requires opening a new era of defense, an era where Indian-Pacific security and European-Atlantic security are inseparable, and an era where deep relationships like ours with you (Australia) must be reaffirmed."

Anthony Fensom, Executive Director of the Sydney think tank, the Lowy Institute, analyzed that the treaty to be signed by Australia with the UK "gives a strong boost to the AUKUS agreement." He told Reuters, "The UK's support for the AUKUS agreement is particularly important at this time." Fensom said, "Australia's relationship with the Trump administration was relatively weak, so our ability to influence U.S. policy on important issues, including the review of the AUKUS agreement, was limited."

Healey told reporters that the review of the AUKUS agreement by the U.S. Department of Defense is expected to highlight its benefits to the United States. He emphasized, "The AUKUS partnership no longer needs money from American taxpayers; in fact, Australia and the UK have both invested more."

After the meetings, the foreign and defense ministers of Australia and the UK will travel to Melbourne and the northern military city of Darwin. The Royal Navy's aircraft carrier "Princess of Wales" has arrived in Darwin to participate in the "Exercise Talisman Sabre 25" joint military exercise. Up to 40,000 soldiers from 19 countries participated in the exercise held from July 13 to August 4. The Australian military stated that this is a joint operation that helps maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The UK has significantly increased its participation in this largest military exercise in Australian history, with 3,000 British soldiers participating. Healey said, "Although those countries that have assisted Russia, provided drones, technology, and sent troops to the front line may currently be focusing on Ukraine, they may turn their attention to the Indo-Pacific next."

Australia agreed to expand its contribution to training Ukrainian troops in the UK. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated that Australia and the UK have committed to cooperation on key minerals and cybersecurity in the Pacific region. The two countries will also cooperate internationally to protect gender equality and "resist regression of rights." After the U.S. fully reformed its international aid, Australia introduced that gender equality will become an essential component of its foreign policy and aid programs.

Source: rfi

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1838635302541450/

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