UK Minister Catherine West says AUKUS ‘most strategically significant new partnership in a generation’

The AUKUS partnership between Australia, the UK and the US is “our most strategically significant new partnership in a generation,” the UK’s Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West, has written in an exclusive op-ed for The Nightly.

“It is supporting peace and security in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic and creating jobs and economic growth in all three countries,” writes the Minister, who is currently visiting Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to accelerate defence cooperation under the trilateral pact, as well as deepen US-Australia cooperation to reach “net zero” targets.

The Minister also spruiks the UK and Australia Defence and Security Agreement as a boost to “regional and global stability,” flagging a multinational naval deployment, led by the UK aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales that will visit Australia in the near future.

The strengthening defence alliance between the UK and Australia also includes “a wide range of joint operations and exercises, including the permanent deployment of two Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessels, HMS Tamar and HMS Spey in the Indo-Pacific,” writes Ms West.

The Minister’s visit and robust statement on the UK’s commitment to the $368b trilateral arrangement to deliver a nuclear-powered submarine capability for Australia, will be welcomed by Canberra where there has been a wave of unease over a new Pentagon review into the future of the pact.

The first stage of the AUKUS security partnership, first unveiled in September 2021, would see British and American nuclear submarines rotating through Perth from 2027 before the sale of US Navy Virginia-class attack submarines to Australia in the early 2030s.

In the latter stage, Australia will construct a new SSN-Aukus fleet in Adelaide.

The agreement also aims to expand defence cooperation between Australia, the US and UK on cyber and artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies.

The Government has sought to play down concerns over the Pentagon review, stressing the success of the pact remains firmly in the United States’ interests.

Defence experts agree but they have also cautioned that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese needs to reassure US President Donald Trump of Australia’s commitment to raise future defence spending in response to rising strategic threats in the Indo-Pacific region.

The US has called on Australia to raise its defence budget to 3.5 per cent of GDP “as soon as possible,” but the Government has refused to commit to investing beyond its current projections of 2.33 per cent by 2033.

The Albanese Government was given a boost on Tuesday after UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also reiterated watertight British support for the program during a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump at the G-7 in Canada.

“Yes, we’re proceeding with that and it’s a really important deal to both of us,” said Mr Starmer when asked about the submarine agreement.

“We did a review when we came into government, so that makes good sense to me. But it’s a really important deal,” he said, as Mr Trump nodded beside him.

In a press statement ahead of her visit, Ms West said that alongside defence cooperation, she would focus the trip on creating jobs and investment opportunities through increased economic, and security collaboration.

“Australia presents major investment opportunities for the UK, including through its superfund sector and the redevelopment of a new consulate in Melbourne. I am here to unlock these opportunities through engaging with government and business leaders,” she said.