ANKARA<\/p>\n
Australia on Saturday announced that it has signed a long-term treaty with the UK to strengthen collaboration under the AUKUS nuclear submarine partnership.<\/p>\n
The agreement, signed by Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and UK Defense Secretary John Healey in Geelong, Victoria, sets the framework for 50 years of cooperation.<\/p>\n
“This afternoon I met with the UK Secretary of State for Defence @JohnHealey_MP to sign The Geelong Treaty – a historic agreement between Australia and the United Kingdom that will enable us to collaborate closely to deliver AUKUS over the next fifty years,” Marles said on X.<\/p>\n
“Our close friendship with the United Kingdom is crucial for maintaining security and stability in our region and globally,” he added.<\/p>\n
The agreement includes “comprehensive cooperation” on designing, building, operating, sustaining, and disposing of the SSN-AUKUS submarines, as well as developing personnel, infrastructure, and systems required for the program.<\/p>\n
Earlier in September 2021, the US, the UK, and Australia had signed the AUKUS pact, under which Canberra would receive nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy.<\/p>\n
US President Donald Trump initiated a review of the A$368 billion ($247 billion) AUKUS pact in June to assess whether it aligns with his \u201cAmerica First\u201d policy priorities.<\/p>\n
However, on Friday, the UK and Australia agreed to sign a fresh bilateral pact during a meeting between the foreign and defense ministers of both countries, held in the eastern Australian city of Sydney.<\/p>\n