Defence Minister Richard Marles has held historic talks in London with his UK and US counterparts on the third anniversary of the signing of the AUKUS agreement.
The third AUKUS Defence Ministers meeting, involving the UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey and the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III, was the first held outside the US.
Mr Marles said the meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment to the partnership.
“What three years ago was an idea, today we can rightfully say that idea has blossomed into operational plans and plans that are being executed,” Mr Marles said.
“This is a generational opportunity to modernise and enhance our longstanding partnerships, and support security and stability in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.”
The ministers discussed key progress on AUKUS Pillar I, including the recent submarine tendered maintenance period at HMAS Stirling and the acceleration of workforce development initiatives, trilateral supply chain resilience and the uplift of respective industrial bases.
“I’m delighted that my British and American counterparts not only welcomed the progress we have been making, but reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Australia’s acquisition of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines,” Mr Marles said.
Also discussed was progress on AUKUS Pillar II Advanced Capabilities including the newly established export licence-free environment.
“We have seen legislative and regulatory changes take place across the US, UK and Australia, which have created a license-free seamless defence industrial base between our three countries,” Mr Marles said.
“This is one of the biggest reforms we have seen in defence trade in decades and will have a profound effect on the way we operate together.”
Mr Austin described the “extraordinary strength” of the AUKUS partnership.
“AUKUS offers a unique opportunity for our three countries to enhance our military capabilities, deepen our interoperability and strengthen deterrence in the Indo-Pacific,” Mr Austin said.
‘This is a generational opportunity to modernise and enhance our longstanding partnerships, and support security and stability in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.’
The talks at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, come as Australia and the UK announced the start of negotiations on a bilateral AUKUS treaty.
Mr Marles said the focus of the agreement would be the elements of AUKUS that relate to the relationship between the UK and Australia.
“That particularly pertains to the development of a strategic and operational framework for the development of the new AUKUS submarines (SSN-AUKUS),” Mr Marles said.
Mr Healey has welcomed the commencement of the negotiations.
“This not only reflects our commitment to secure a secure Indo-Pacific region where international rules are respected, it also sends a very strong message that our defence alliance is one that will endure for many decades to come,” Mr Healey said.
The ministers issued a joint communique at the end of the talks, reaffirming their commitment to the AUKUS partnership. It outlined some of the key milestones that have been achieved, including:
- More than 60 Royal Australian Navy (RAN) personnel are currently in various stages of the US nuclear-powered submarine SSN training pipeline to equip a cadre of Australian officers and sailors with experience aboard the US Virginia-class SSNs that the RAN will own and operate from the early 2030s. These numbers will increase further in 2025, with more than 100 personnel commencing training. Six officers have completed all training and have been assigned to US Virginia-class submarines. RAN enlisted sailors will join US submarine crews before the end of this year.
- In the United Kingdom, three RAN officers completed the UK Naval Nuclear Reactor course in July 2024 and are now assigned to UK Astute-class submarines. The next group of RAN officers will commence training in the UK in November 2024.
- The Royal Navy, with the support of the Australian Submarine Agency, has also delivered professional and general naval nuclear propulsion training for more than 250 Australian personnel in Canberra.
- Australians have embedded into program delivery teams in the UK Ministry of Defence and with Rolls-Royce Submarines. Australians are also embedded in US Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program teams.
