The Geelong Treaty was signed by Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Honourable Richard Marles MP, and the UK’s Secretary of State for Defence, the Right Honourable John Healey MP. The signing took place during the UK-Australia Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Geelong, Victoria.
This treaty establishes a framework for comprehensive cooperation on the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and eventual disposal of SSN-AUKUS submarines. It also supports the development of the personnel, infrastructure, workforce, and regulatory systems necessary for Australia’s SSN-AUKUS programme.
The Treaty facilitates port visits and a rotational presence of a UK Astute-class submarine at HMAS Stirling as part of the Submarine Rotational Force – West. It builds on the trilateral defence collaboration between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States under AUKUS.
It also supports the development of SSN-AUKUS and resilient trilateral supply chains. The Treaty is fully aligned with both nations’ international nuclear non-proliferation obligations, including under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty.
“The Geelong Treaty reflects the strength of our longstanding defence relationship and our shared determination to deepen defence capability and technology cooperation under AUKUS,” said the Honourable Richard Marles MP. He added that the agreement would “support Australia’s acquisition of a conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability and help build the skills, infrastructure and technology needed to deliver and sustain it.”
The Right Honourable John Healey MP stated, “The Geelong Treaty is a historic milestone in the UK’s defence relationship with Australia.” He emphasised that it “demonstrates the UK’s enduring commitment to the Indo-Pacific and the AUKUS partnership.”
Alongside the AUKUS Naval Nuclear Propulsion Agreement (ANNPA), the Treaty will enable delivery of advanced undersea capabilities. It will also promote security in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions and stimulate growth and industrial development in both countries.
This initiative is expected to create thousands of jobs and expand the submarine industrial base across the UK and Australia. The agreement opens new opportunities for defence industry partners and strengthens the strategic defence partnership for the next 50 years.
