During a visit to the United Kingdom, Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles was assured that the new British government would continue to support the AUKUS submarine defence project.
Defence Secretary John Healey said AUKUS was a “fundamental” part of Britain’s future security and could help advance the growth agenda of the newly elected British Labour government.
After just over a week in office and fresh from a NATO summit in Washington DC, Mr Healey visited steel specialist Sheffield Forgemasters on Saturday with Mr Marles.
There, he reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to AUKUS and highlighted its role in creating jobs in the UK.
“This is just one example of how our vitally important partnership with our Australian and American partners can help drive jobs and growth across the UK,” Healey said.
The submarine programme is expected to create 7,000 additional jobs in the UK.
According to the British Ministry of Defence, at peak times over 21,000 people in the British supply chain will be working on relevant programmes.
As part of a trilateral partnership with the US and UK, Australia will acquire three Virginia-class ships and build its own SSN AUKUS aircraft, resulting in eight nuclear-powered submarines in Australian service by the 2050s.
The plan will cost up to $368 billion.
AUKUS is a partnership between the UK, the US and Australia whose main aim is to help Canberra acquire nuclear-powered submarines amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
The trilateral pact also includes cooperation on a number of other military technologies.
Mr Marles also visited His Majesty’s Clyde Naval Base in Scotland to see first-hand how the UK operates its nuclear submarine base.
The first three Royal Australian Navy officers will soon begin practical training on British Astute-class submarines at this naval base, after completing the Royal Navy’s nuclear reactor training course this week.
Mr Marles said it was “a significant milestone in developing the skilled workforce required to operate Australia’s future nuclear submarines”.
“Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States are firmly committed to the continued implementation of AUKUS. It is great to see real progress being made on our national submarine programs,” Mr Marles said in a statement.
The visit comes after British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, outlining the two leaders’ commitment to partnership.
While concerns remain about the cost of the plan, workforce capacity and nuclear waste disposal, a 2024 Lowy poll found that almost two-thirds of Australians support the acquisition of nuclear submarines.