Britain issues 50-year vow to back AUKUS despite Trump doubts
The treaty, negotiated in less than 12 months, will outline the two countries' commitment to training naval personnel, developing the workforce, building the infrastructure and establishing a regulatory regime to ensure Australia is ready and capable of operating, maintaining and assembling nuclear-powered submarines.
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Top End war games visit follows bilateral pact signing
With the ink dry on a 50-year Anglo-Australian submarine agreement, visiting British ministers David Lammy and John Healey are set to join Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles for some fun and war games in the Top End. Mr Marles and Secretary of State Mr Healey put pen to paper on a bilateral deal said to strengthen ties around the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement in Geelong on Saturday despite a review of the three-nation pact by the US government. AUKUS, formed with the UK and US in 2021 to address concerns about China's rising military ambition, is designed to enable Australia to acquire nuclear-powered attack submarines in the 2040s. However, concerns over the viability of the $560 billion deal have been ongoing since the Trump administration initiated a review to examine if it meets its "America-first" criteria. In a bid to put the matter to rest, Mr Marles insisted after the Geelong Treaty signing that it built on "the strong foundation of trilateral co-operation between Australia, the UK and the United States" and advanced the shared objectives of AUKUS. "It will support the development of the personnel, workforce, infrastructure and regulatory systems required for Australia's ... AUKUS program" as well as support the rotational presence of a UK Astute-class submarine at HMAS Stirling in Perth, he said. Mr Marles said he remained confident about the future of US involvement in the partnership, as did Mr Healey and Mr Lammy, Britain's Foreign Secretary. Australia will pay $5 billion to support British industry in designing and producing nuclear reactors to power the future AUKUS-class subs. It will also acquire at least three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines from the US in the early 2030s. With the formalities done and dusted, Mr Marles, Mr Lammy and Mr Healey are expected to attend Talisman Sabre in Darwin on Sunday. Australia's largest and most sophisticated war-fighting exercise started on July 13 and involves more than 35,000 personnel from 19 militaries across three weeks. In addition to the US, forces from Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the UK have joined as partners. Malaysia and Vietnam are also attending as observers. The 2025 war games involve the UK's Carrier Strike Group, led by the Royal Navy flagship HMS Prince of Wales - the first UK carrier strike group to visit Australia since 1997. With the ink dry on a 50-year Anglo-Australian submarine agreement, visiting British ministers David Lammy and John Healey are set to join Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles for some fun and war games in the Top End. Mr Marles and Secretary of State Mr Healey put pen to paper on a bilateral deal said to strengthen ties around the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement in Geelong on Saturday despite a review of the three-nation pact by the US government. AUKUS, formed with the UK and US in 2021 to address concerns about China's rising military ambition, is designed to enable Australia to acquire nuclear-powered attack submarines in the 2040s. However, concerns over the viability of the $560 billion deal have been ongoing since the Trump administration initiated a review to examine if it meets its "America-first" criteria. In a bid to put the matter to rest, Mr Marles insisted after the Geelong Treaty signing that it built on "the strong foundation of trilateral co-operation between Australia, the UK and the United States" and advanced the shared objectives of AUKUS. "It will support the development of the personnel, workforce, infrastructure and regulatory systems required for Australia's ... AUKUS program" as well as support the rotational presence of a UK Astute-class submarine at HMAS Stirling in Perth, he said. Mr Marles said he remained confident about the future of US involvement in the partnership, as did Mr Healey and Mr Lammy, Britain's Foreign Secretary. Australia will pay $5 billion to support British industry in designing and producing nuclear reactors to power the future AUKUS-class subs. It will also acquire at least three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines from the US in the early 2030s. With the formalities done and dusted, Mr Marles, Mr Lammy and Mr Healey are expected to attend Talisman Sabre in Darwin on Sunday. Australia's largest and most sophisticated war-fighting exercise started on July 13 and involves more than 35,000 personnel from 19 militaries across three weeks. In addition to the US, forces from Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the UK have joined as partners. Malaysia and Vietnam are also attending as observers. The 2025 war games involve the UK's Carrier Strike Group, led by the Royal Navy flagship HMS Prince of Wales - the first UK carrier strike group to visit Australia since 1997. With the ink dry on a 50-year Anglo-Australian submarine agreement, visiting British ministers David Lammy and John Healey are set to join Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles for some fun and war games in the Top End. Mr Marles and Secretary of State Mr Healey put pen to paper on a bilateral deal said to strengthen ties around the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement in Geelong on Saturday despite a review of the three-nation pact by the US government. AUKUS, formed with the UK and US in 2021 to address concerns about China's rising military ambition, is designed to enable Australia to acquire nuclear-powered attack submarines in the 2040s. However, concerns over the viability of the $560 billion deal have been ongoing since the Trump administration initiated a review to examine if it meets its "America-first" criteria. In a bid to put the matter to rest, Mr Marles insisted after the Geelong Treaty signing that it built on "the strong foundation of trilateral co-operation between Australia, the UK and the United States" and advanced the shared objectives of AUKUS. "It will support the development of the personnel, workforce, infrastructure and regulatory systems required for Australia's ... AUKUS program" as well as support the rotational presence of a UK Astute-class submarine at HMAS Stirling in Perth, he said. Mr Marles said he remained confident about the future of US involvement in the partnership, as did Mr Healey and Mr Lammy, Britain's Foreign Secretary. Australia will pay $5 billion to support British industry in designing and producing nuclear reactors to power the future AUKUS-class subs. It will also acquire at least three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines from the US in the early 2030s. With the formalities done and dusted, Mr Marles, Mr Lammy and Mr Healey are expected to attend Talisman Sabre in Darwin on Sunday. Australia's largest and most sophisticated war-fighting exercise started on July 13 and involves more than 35,000 personnel from 19 militaries across three weeks. In addition to the US, forces from Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the UK have joined as partners. Malaysia and Vietnam are also attending as observers. The 2025 war games involve the UK's Carrier Strike Group, led by the Royal Navy flagship HMS Prince of Wales - the first UK carrier strike group to visit Australia since 1997. With the ink dry on a 50-year Anglo-Australian submarine agreement, visiting British ministers David Lammy and John Healey are set to join Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles for some fun and war games in the Top End. Mr Marles and Secretary of State Mr Healey put pen to paper on a bilateral deal said to strengthen ties around the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement in Geelong on Saturday despite a review of the three-nation pact by the US government. AUKUS, formed with the UK and US in 2021 to address concerns about China's rising military ambition, is designed to enable Australia to acquire nuclear-powered attack submarines in the 2040s. However, concerns over the viability of the $560 billion deal have been ongoing since the Trump administration initiated a review to examine if it meets its "America-first" criteria. In a bid to put the matter to rest, Mr Marles insisted after the Geelong Treaty signing that it built on "the strong foundation of trilateral co-operation between Australia, the UK and the United States" and advanced the shared objectives of AUKUS. "It will support the development of the personnel, workforce, infrastructure and regulatory systems required for Australia's ... AUKUS program" as well as support the rotational presence of a UK Astute-class submarine at HMAS Stirling in Perth, he said. Mr Marles said he remained confident about the future of US involvement in the partnership, as did Mr Healey and Mr Lammy, Britain's Foreign Secretary. Australia will pay $5 billion to support British industry in designing and producing nuclear reactors to power the future AUKUS-class subs. It will also acquire at least three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines from the US in the early 2030s. With the formalities done and dusted, Mr Marles, Mr Lammy and Mr Healey are expected to attend Talisman Sabre in Darwin on Sunday. Australia's largest and most sophisticated war-fighting exercise started on July 13 and involves more than 35,000 personnel from 19 militaries across three weeks. In addition to the US, forces from Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the UK have joined as partners. Malaysia and Vietnam are also attending as observers. The 2025 war games involve the UK's Carrier Strike Group, led by the Royal Navy flagship HMS Prince of Wales - the first UK carrier strike group to visit Australia since 1997.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
EU chief heads to Scotland for trade talks with Trump
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has headed to Scotland ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump, as speculation mounts of a trade agreement. Trump, in Scotland for a few days of golfing and bilateral meetings, told reporters upon his arrival on Friday evening that he was looking forward to meeting with von der Leyen, calling her a "highly respected" leader. He repeated his view that there was a 50-50 chance that the US and the 27-member European Union could reach a framework trade pact. He added that Brussels wanted to "make a deal very badly". If it happened, he said it would be the biggest trade agreement reached yet by his administration, surpassing the $US550 billion ($A826 billion) accord agreed with Japan last week. The White House has released no details about the planned meeting or the terms of the emerging agreement. The European Commission on Thursday said a negotiated trade solution with the United States was within reach, even as EU members voted to approve counter-tariffs on 93 billion euros ($A164 billion) of US goods in case the talks collapse. To get a deal, Trump said the EU would have to "buy down" that tariff rate, although he gave no specifics. EU diplomats say a possible deal between Washington and Brussels would likely include a broad 15 per cent tariff on EU goods imported into the US, mirroring the US-Japan deal, along with a 50 per cent tariff on European steel and aluminium. The broad tariff rate would be half the 30 per cent duties that Trump has threatened to slap on EU goods from August 1. It remains unclear if Washington will agree to exempt the EU from sectoral tariffs on cars, pharmaceuticals and other goods that have already been announced or are pending. Combining goods, services and investment, the EU and the United States are each other's largest trading partners by far. The American Chamber of Commerce in Brussels warned in March that any conflict would jeopardise $US9.5 ($A14.3) trillion of business in the world's most important commercial relationship. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has headed to Scotland ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump, as speculation mounts of a trade agreement. Trump, in Scotland for a few days of golfing and bilateral meetings, told reporters upon his arrival on Friday evening that he was looking forward to meeting with von der Leyen, calling her a "highly respected" leader. He repeated his view that there was a 50-50 chance that the US and the 27-member European Union could reach a framework trade pact. He added that Brussels wanted to "make a deal very badly". If it happened, he said it would be the biggest trade agreement reached yet by his administration, surpassing the $US550 billion ($A826 billion) accord agreed with Japan last week. The White House has released no details about the planned meeting or the terms of the emerging agreement. The European Commission on Thursday said a negotiated trade solution with the United States was within reach, even as EU members voted to approve counter-tariffs on 93 billion euros ($A164 billion) of US goods in case the talks collapse. To get a deal, Trump said the EU would have to "buy down" that tariff rate, although he gave no specifics. EU diplomats say a possible deal between Washington and Brussels would likely include a broad 15 per cent tariff on EU goods imported into the US, mirroring the US-Japan deal, along with a 50 per cent tariff on European steel and aluminium. The broad tariff rate would be half the 30 per cent duties that Trump has threatened to slap on EU goods from August 1. It remains unclear if Washington will agree to exempt the EU from sectoral tariffs on cars, pharmaceuticals and other goods that have already been announced or are pending. Combining goods, services and investment, the EU and the United States are each other's largest trading partners by far. The American Chamber of Commerce in Brussels warned in March that any conflict would jeopardise $US9.5 ($A14.3) trillion of business in the world's most important commercial relationship. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has headed to Scotland ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump, as speculation mounts of a trade agreement. Trump, in Scotland for a few days of golfing and bilateral meetings, told reporters upon his arrival on Friday evening that he was looking forward to meeting with von der Leyen, calling her a "highly respected" leader. He repeated his view that there was a 50-50 chance that the US and the 27-member European Union could reach a framework trade pact. He added that Brussels wanted to "make a deal very badly". If it happened, he said it would be the biggest trade agreement reached yet by his administration, surpassing the $US550 billion ($A826 billion) accord agreed with Japan last week. The White House has released no details about the planned meeting or the terms of the emerging agreement. The European Commission on Thursday said a negotiated trade solution with the United States was within reach, even as EU members voted to approve counter-tariffs on 93 billion euros ($A164 billion) of US goods in case the talks collapse. To get a deal, Trump said the EU would have to "buy down" that tariff rate, although he gave no specifics. EU diplomats say a possible deal between Washington and Brussels would likely include a broad 15 per cent tariff on EU goods imported into the US, mirroring the US-Japan deal, along with a 50 per cent tariff on European steel and aluminium. The broad tariff rate would be half the 30 per cent duties that Trump has threatened to slap on EU goods from August 1. It remains unclear if Washington will agree to exempt the EU from sectoral tariffs on cars, pharmaceuticals and other goods that have already been announced or are pending. Combining goods, services and investment, the EU and the United States are each other's largest trading partners by far. The American Chamber of Commerce in Brussels warned in March that any conflict would jeopardise $US9.5 ($A14.3) trillion of business in the world's most important commercial relationship. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has headed to Scotland ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump, as speculation mounts of a trade agreement. Trump, in Scotland for a few days of golfing and bilateral meetings, told reporters upon his arrival on Friday evening that he was looking forward to meeting with von der Leyen, calling her a "highly respected" leader. He repeated his view that there was a 50-50 chance that the US and the 27-member European Union could reach a framework trade pact. He added that Brussels wanted to "make a deal very badly". If it happened, he said it would be the biggest trade agreement reached yet by his administration, surpassing the $US550 billion ($A826 billion) accord agreed with Japan last week. The White House has released no details about the planned meeting or the terms of the emerging agreement. The European Commission on Thursday said a negotiated trade solution with the United States was within reach, even as EU members voted to approve counter-tariffs on 93 billion euros ($A164 billion) of US goods in case the talks collapse. To get a deal, Trump said the EU would have to "buy down" that tariff rate, although he gave no specifics. EU diplomats say a possible deal between Washington and Brussels would likely include a broad 15 per cent tariff on EU goods imported into the US, mirroring the US-Japan deal, along with a 50 per cent tariff on European steel and aluminium. The broad tariff rate would be half the 30 per cent duties that Trump has threatened to slap on EU goods from August 1. It remains unclear if Washington will agree to exempt the EU from sectoral tariffs on cars, pharmaceuticals and other goods that have already been announced or are pending. Combining goods, services and investment, the EU and the United States are each other's largest trading partners by far. The American Chamber of Commerce in Brussels warned in March that any conflict would jeopardise $US9.5 ($A14.3) trillion of business in the world's most important commercial relationship.
West Australian
3 hours ago
- West Australian
Top End war games visit follows bilateral pact signing
With the ink dry on a 50-year Anglo-Australian submarine agreement, visiting British ministers David Lammy and John Healey are set to join Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles for some fun and war games in the Top End. Mr Marles and Secretary of State Mr Healey put pen to paper on a bilateral deal said to strengthen ties around the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement in Geelong on Saturday despite a review of the three-nation pact by the US government. AUKUS, formed with the UK and US in 2021 to address concerns about China's rising military ambition, is designed to enable Australia to acquire nuclear-powered attack submarines in the 2040s. However, concerns over the viability of the $560 billion deal have been ongoing since the Trump administration initiated a review to examine if it meets its "America-first" criteria. In a bid to put the matter to rest, Mr Marles insisted after the Geelong Treaty signing that it built on "the strong foundation of trilateral co-operation between Australia, the UK and the United States" and advanced the shared objectives of AUKUS. "It will support the development of the personnel, workforce, infrastructure and regulatory systems required for Australia's ... AUKUS program" as well as support the rotational presence of a UK Astute-class submarine at HMAS Stirling in Perth , he said . Mr Marles said he remained confident about the future of US involvement in the partnership, as did Mr Healey and Mr Lammy, Britain's Foreign Secretary. Australia will pay $5 billion to support British industry in designing and producing nuclear reactors to power the future AUKUS-class subs. It will also acquire at least three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines from the US in the early 2030s. With the formalities done and dusted, Mr Marles, Mr Lammy and Mr Healey are expected to attend Talisman Sabre in Darwin on Sunday. Australia's largest and most sophisticated war-fighting exercise started on July 13 and involves more than 35,000 personnel from 19 militaries across three weeks. In addition to the US, forces from Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the UK have joined as partners. Malaysia and Vietnam are also attending as observers. The 2025 war games involve the UK's Carrier Strike Group, led by the Royal Navy flagship HMS Prince of Wales - the first UK carrier strike group to visit Australia since 1997.
