UK, Australia to work on nuclear subs treaty
The United Kingdom and Australia are to begin discussions on a formal treaty between the two countries as part of their own nuclear submarine program.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey said the bilateral agreement would “bind” their alliance into law.
They form two-thirds of the AUKUS security partnership with the United States, which was established in 2021.
Healey said he hoped it would mean the alliance would “endure for decades”.
“I can announce that (Australian) Deputy Prime Minister (Richard) Marles and I have agreed that negotiations will soon be under way for a new bilateral treaty to bind our AUKUS collaboration into law,” Healey said while alongside Marles and US Secretary of State Lloyd Austin.
“So 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.”
The meeting on Thursday represented the first time defence ministers from the three AUKUS countries had met together outside the United States.
The UK and Australia are working on their joint submarine project, known as SSN-AUKUS.
It is hoped that the nuclear powered fleet submarines would enter service in the late 2030s in the UK and early 2040s for the Australian navy.
Healey said the UK has already trained 250 Australian naval personnel in how to operate, maintain and regulate nuclear powered submarines.
He announced the UK had agreed to train hundreds more.
Healey added the UK had agreed to add UK-made Sting Ray torpedoes to P8-A submarine hunting aircraft, which target deep diving and conventional submarines.
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