A new AUKUS treaty between will support tens of thousands of jobs in the defence industry through a 50 year joint nuclear submarine development programme.
The export of new submarines and technology is expected to be worth £20 billion over the next 25 years, creating 7,000 new jobs across the defence supply chain.
At its peak the AUKUS submarine programme, known as SSN-AUKUS, will employ over 21,000 people in the UK.
Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, 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.”
The partnership announcement comes after the government pledged to increase defence spending to five per cent of GDP by 2025 and coincides with a joint naval operation involving the UK’s Carrier Strike Force and more than 3,000 British military personnel in the Indo-Pacific region, signalling the UK’s continued strategic role in the region.
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.”
The foreign secretary will join British forces on this operation, meeting his Australian counterpart for the annual “Australia-UK Ministerial” (AUKMIN) to discuss how the two countries can deepen their collaboration efforts.
In response to the announcement, the Conservative Party welcomed continued progress while emphasising the origins of AUKUS under its leadership.
James Cartlidge MP, Shadow Defence Secretary, said: “AUKUS was a landmark achievement of the last Conservative Government and it’s essential that Labour keeps up the momentum, including on industrial collaboration.
“We welcome further progress but this must deliver in practice, both in terms of jobs and strengthened mutual security, at a time of heightened threat.”
The delegation will also observe Royal Navy operations and engage with service personnel aboard HMS Prince of Wales, currently docked in Darwin.
The deployment of the Carrier Strike Group is part of the wider Exercise Talisman Sabre involving over 35,000 military personnel from 19 nations including the United States, New Zealand and Japan.
The Government states that the treaty reflects the UK’s strategic aim of maintaining operational readiness with allies and supporting defence exports. Officials also say the partnership supports the Indo-Pacific deployment strategy by reinforcing existing trade and security commitments in the region.
AUKUS remains one of the UK’s largest long-term defence undertakings and a key element in its trilateral relationship with the United States and Australia.
Featured image via Simon Dawson / No 10.
