Lammy and Healey to sign bilateral Aukus deal during trip to Australia
David Lammy and John Healey will meet their counterparts at the annual Australia-UK ministerial meeting, or Aukmin, in Sydney, and then travel on to Melbourne to meet businesses involved in the Aukus submarine programme.
They will also visit Darwin as the Carrier Strike Group docks in the Northern Territory.
The Aukus partnership between the UK, US and Australia involves building nuclear-powered attack submarines – including Australia acquiring its first such fleet – and co-operating in other areas of defence.
It was agreed by the three countries in 2021, but the Trump administration has put it under review, raising fears it could pull out.
The deal now being signed by the UK and Australia sets out the bilateral aspects of the partnership and how the two countries will work together to deliver their Aukus submarine programmes over the next half century.
Defence Secretary Mr Healey said: 'Aukus is one of Britain's most important defence partnerships, strengthening global security while driving growth at home.
'This historic treaty confirms our Aukus commitment for the next half century.'
He said people 'not yet born' will benefit from jobs secured through the deal.
More than 21,000 people in the UK are expected to be working on the programme at its peak.
Foreign Secretary Mr Lammy said the UK-Australia relationship is 'like no other'.
He added: 'In our increasingly volatile and dangerous world, our anchoring friendship has real impact in the protection of global peace and prosperity.
'Our new bilateral Aukus treaty is an embodiment of that – safeguarding a free and open Indo-Pacific whilst catalysing growth for both our countries.'
The UK's Carrier Strike Group – an international formation of Royal Navy warships, submarines and aircraft – has been taking part in the Talisman Sabre military exercise hosted in Australia.
The Australia and US-led military exercise involves more than 35,000 military personnel from 19 countries.
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said: 'Aukus was a landmark achievement of the last Conservative government and it's essential that Labour keeps up the momentum, including on industrial collaboration.
'We welcome further progress but this must deliver in practice, both in terms of jobs and strengthened mutual security, at a time of heightened threats.'
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