Geelong Treaty

Australia and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their long-term commitment to the AUKUS defense treaty by signing a 50-year bilateral agreement, known as the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration Treaty (the Geelong Treaty). This signing took place in Geelong, Victoria, between Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and UK Defence Secretary John Healey.

• The Geelong Treaty is a historic agreement that solidifies 50 years of UK-Australian bilateral defense cooperation under AUKUS Pillar I. This pillar specifically focuses on comprehensive cooperation for the design, build, operation, sustainment, and disposal of their SSN-AUKUS submarines.

• This development comes at a time when the United States is reportedly wavering on its role in the AUKUS alliance. The US Department of Defense has announced a review of the trilateral security partnership to determine its alignment with the “America First” agenda.

Contextual Information:

• AUKUS is a trilateral security partnership formed in September 2021 between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Its primary aim is to promote a “free and open Indo-Pacific that is secure and stable,” widely seen as a response to China’s growing influence in the region.
• AUKUS Pillar I specifically deals with Australia’s acquisition of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines. This involves significant technology transfer and collaboration, with Australia set to acquire US-made Virginia-class submarines initially, followed by the jointly developed SSN-AUKUS submarines based on a British design.