UK and Australia sign defense agreement
UK and Australia sign defense agreement (Getty Images)
Australian and British defense ministers, Richard Marles and Grant Shapps, have inked a new agreement on defense and security cooperation, according to the Australian Ministry of Defense.
The document outlines joint efforts between the two nations to tackle climate change, invest in military intelligence, and enhance collaboration in maritime demining.
The agreement was signed in Canberra today, March 21, following ministerial consultations between Australia and Britain.
"From the UK’s leadership of support for Ukraine and efforts to address the Houthi threat, to increasing contributions in the Pacific and the Indo-Pacific, we continue to work closely together to support a global rules-based order," said Marles.
The AUKUS alliance, comprising Australia, Britain, and the USA, was announced in September 2021. The first initiative under this pact involved the modernization of Australia's armed forces, with the USA committing to transfer nuclear submarine technology to the country.
In March 2023, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and US President Joseph Biden announced an agreement among AUKUS member states to supply the Australian Navy with nuclear-powered submarines.
Japanese outlets have reported the AUKUS alliance's interest in leveraging Japanese technologies, including the development of hypersonic weaponry and bolstering electronic warfare capabilities.
On March 20, it was reported that Britain, the USA, and Australia are hastening to expand their trilateral defense partnership AUKUS to other allied nations ahead of elections in all three countries over the next 14 months.
