Britain and Australia will sign a 50-year defense cooperation treaty on Saturday in Sydney to construct nuclear-powered submarines for Australia, officials from both countries announced following a bilateral meeting.
British Defense Secretary John Healey and Foreign Secretary David Lammy met with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong to finalize the agreement. The treaty will support joint efforts to build an Australian submarine fleet using United States nuclear propulsion technology.
Officials held the announcement after concluding annual bilateral talks in Sydney. The agreement will deepen defense collaboration between the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States under the existing trilateral security partnership.
Australia also acknowledged a review by the U.S. administration concerning Washington’s role in the trilateral submarine program. The cooperation treaty is expected to shape long-term defense strategies and strengthen regional security.
British and Australian officials said the treaty represents a major step forward in military cooperation. Marles stated the agreement will significantly contribute to Australia’s defense capabilities.
