US, Australia and UK Defense Chiefs Meet to Strengthen AUKUS Partnership
Australia’s defense chief Richard Marles said Canberra is “very excited” about the pace of work on the long-term AUKUS submarine program.
Members of the Sydney Anti-AUKUS Coalition (SAAC) participate in a protest in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, December 11, 2021. Photo by Anadolu Images.
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.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles and UK Defense Secretary John Healey at the Pentagon on Wednesday for high-level talks on the AUKUS security partnership, emphasizing renewed commitment to delivering the pact’s ambitious military programs.
The meeting came ahead of the annual AUKUS defense ministers’ conference, with all three officials highlighting progress on the trilateral initiative launched in 2021 to bolster stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Speaking at a joint news conference, Hegseth praised the UK and Australia for “stepping up” and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to strengthening deterrence in the region.
“AUKUS reflects a pragmatic, practical application of hard power between our countries,” he said. “Our goal is peace on behalf of our peoples — and we pursue that together.”
Under the agreement, Australia is set to acquire Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines, with the first delivery expected in 2032.
Marles: AUKUS marking ‘real progress’
Australia’s defense chief Richard Marles said Canberra is “very excited” about the pace of work on the long-term submarine program.
He pointed to the recent maintenance of the USS Vermont at HMAS Stirling, calling it the most extensive servicing of a US nuclear-powered submarine ever conducted outside American territory.
“This is a massive project,” Marles said. “The last 12 months has seen a lot of progress — and there is so much more to do.”
He said discussions at the ministers’ meeting would include timelines for submarine delivery and further integration of naval capabilities.
Healey: Time to ‘deliver’ the Apex submarine
UK Defense Secretary John Healey described AUKUS as “the most important military collaboration of the last 70 years,” comparing its significance to the landmark 1958 US-UK nuclear cooperation agreement.
“All three of us are now determined to reboot AUKUS with a new commitment and new determination,” Healey said. “The reviews are done — it’s time to deliver.”
He said the goal is to produce “the most powerful, most feared attack submarine the world has ever seen — the apex predator of the seas.”
Healey added that AUKUS demonstrates how alliances can be leveraged to ensure national security, saying both the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions need more advanced submarine capabilities.
(Source: Anadolu Agency)
