AUKUS nations will work closely together to boost global
security, following the conclusion of a landmark meeting in
London.
Hundreds of Australian defence and civilian personnel will be
upskilled in nuclear reactor expertise in 2025 by specialist
Royal Navy engineers. The first such course concluded earlier
this month, with 250 personnel learning the skills necessary to
own, operate, maintain, sustain and regulate a nuclear-powered
submarine.
The UK Defence Secretary committed to more UK-delivered training
courses as the trilateral Defence Ministers AUKUS meeting
concluded in London. hosted his Australian and US
counterparts at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich – the
site of the Royal Navy's initial nuclear reactor training more
than 60 years ago.
The United Kingdom and the United States are strengthening
superiority in the maritime domain by integrating Sting Ray
torpedoes onto P-8A submarine-hunting aircraft. The Sting Ray
counters deep diving and conventional submarines, and this move
has the potential to boost lethality and stockpile resilience
across the AUKUS nations.
UK Defence Secretary said:
“These are serious times, with threats increasing across the
globe. Our defence partnerships have never been more important. I
am pleased to confirm further skills and capability agreements
with our AUKUS partners today.
“Our government will stand shoulder to shoulder with our
Australian and the US partners, with new UK leadership in AUKUS
and a commitment to boost jobs and growth.
“It has been an honour to host my counterparts in London for this
landmark meeting.”
The progress by Australia to build their own nuclear-powered
submarine workforce was furthered by Australian personnel last
month when they participated in the maintenance of a
nuclear-powered attack submarine – the USS Hawaii – for the first
time in Australia.
A trilateral statement issued following today's meeting
underlined the security partnership's continued commitment to
supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific, that is secure and
stable. It said the countries will continue to work to uphold the
rules-based international order where human rights and the rule
of law are respected, and states can make sovereign choices free
from coercion.
