2024-03-21 17:10:18
Australia and Britain have signed a new defense and security cooperation agreement that makes it easier for their armed forces to work together, Reuters reported.
British Foreign Minister David Cameron and Defense Minister Grant Shapps are on a visit to Australia, and it is expected that during their visit a British company will be appointed as the contractor for the construction of a nuclear submarine under the AUCUS strategic cooperation agreement.
The treaty signed today provides for Britain and Australia to consult in contingencies that affect the sovereignty and regional security of both countries.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said it added a new strategic dimension to one of Australia’s oldest partnerships, noting that for a long time the UK’s presence in the Indo-Pacific had not been as strong as it is now.
Marles added that the new contract would facilitate the rotational deployment of British submarines in Australian territorial waters. In addition, a common intelligence center will be built in Australia.