Australia and the UK have signed a landmark 50-year AUKUS treaty amid the US review of its role in the pact. Known as the Geelong Treaty, it enhances nuclear submarine collaboration, supports defence workforce development, and boosts bilateral cooperation under AUKUS Pillar I, reinforcing strategic security in the Indo-Pacific.
In a step toward reinforcing their long-term defence collaboration, Australia and the United Kingdom on Saturday signed a historic 50-year treaty under the AUKUS partnership, even as the United States continues to review its commitment to the alliance.
The agreement, formally named the Geelong Treaty, was signed by Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and UK Defence Secretary John Healey during a high-level meeting in Geelong, Victoria. The treaty outlines a deepened bilateral partnership between Australia and the UK under AUKUS Pillar I, which specifically focuses on the development and deployment of nuclear-powered submarines.
“This treaty marks a generational commitment between two trusted allies,” stated Marles and Healey in a joint press release. “The Geelong Treaty represents a historic milestone in UK-Australian bilateral defence cooperation, charting a clear course for the next 50 years.”
The treaty will facilitate extensive collaboration on the design, construction, operation, sustainment, and eventual disposal of next-generation nuclear-powered submarines, designated as SSN-AUKUS. It also aims to support the necessary development of defence personnel, infrastructure, and regulatory systems to bolster Australia’s submarine capabilities.
According to the statement, the agreement will also enable UK Astute-class submarines to make rotational deployments at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia, strengthening the regional security presence under the Submarine Rotational Force-West initiative.
Significantly, the treaty was signed amid growing uncertainty surrounding the US role in the AUKUS pact. The US Department of Defense recently announced a comprehensive review of its participation in AUKUS to ensure that it aligns with the “America First” doctrine advocated by segments of the US political leadership.
Despite this, Marles and Healey reiterated that the Geelong Treaty strengthens the trilateral AUKUS alliance and furthers the shared strategic objectives of all three nations. “The treaty builds on the strong foundation of trilateral cooperation between Australia, the UK, and the United States,” the statement emphasized, highlighting its role in ensuring resilient and secure trilateral supply chains.
The AUKUS partnership, first announced in September 2021, was established to foster deeper strategic integration between the US, UK, and Australia, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. Under AUKUS Pillar I, the focus has been on advancing nuclear-powered submarine capabilities for Australia, with Pillar II involving broader technological collaboration including cyber, AI, and quantum technologies.
However, Australia’s involvement in a nuclear-powered submarine program as a non-nuclear-weapon state has raised eyebrows in the international community. Several countries and nuclear non-proliferation advocates have expressed concerns that such a development could undermine regional stability and potentially fuel an arms race in the Asia-Pacific.
Additionally, according to Nine Entertainment newspapers, Australia has already made its second scheduled payment of 800 million Australian dollars (approximately 525.4 million US dollars) to the United States for the submarine program. This substantial investment underlines the Australian government’s long-term commitment to AUKUS, even as questions linger over US priorities and internal political shifts.
The Geelong Treaty represents more than just a bilateral commitment—it is viewed as a strategic hedge against evolving geopolitical challenges in the Indo-Pacific, particularly amid China’s rising influence. For both the UK and Australia, it signals a readiness to proceed with enhanced defence collaboration, regardless of temporary uncertainties from Washington.
Analysts believe the treaty offers strategic benefits for both parties. For Australia, it ensures access to world-leading British nuclear submarine technology and training, while for the UK, it secures a critical defence foothold in the Indo-Pacific, further aligning with London’s post-Brexit foreign policy ambitions.
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In closing, Marles and Healey called the Geelong Treaty “a symbol of our unwavering partnership,” affirming that the agreement would pave the way for increased defence integration and innovation between the two countries.
With the AUKUS alliance facing both external scrutiny and internal review, the Geelong Treaty appears to reaffirm the enduring strength of Australia–UK relations—and could serve as a stabilizing force as the trilateral pact navigates an uncertain global future.
