Australia, Britain Sign 50-Year AUKUS Nuclear Submarine Treaty

Australia and Britain have signed the Geelong Treaty, a landmark 50-year bilateral agreement to strengthen cooperation on the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine program aimed at countering China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. The treaty will govern collaboration on the design, construction, operation, sustainment, and disposal of SSN-AUKUS submarines and builds on the trilateral AUKUS pact formed in 2021 between Australia, Britain, and the United States. Valued at A$368 billion over three decades, the AUKUS project represents Australia's largest defense investment and includes significant contributions to the U.S. shipbuilding industry. Britain's Ministry of Defence projects the treaty could generate up to £20 billion ($27.1 billion) in exports over 25 years, supporting its submarine program and creating tens of thousands of jobs. The treaty was signed amid Australia's largest military exercise, Talisman Sabre, involving 40,000 troops from 19 countries, with Britain increasing its participation by deploying the HMS Prince of Wales. Despite a formal review of AUKUS launched by President Donald Trump's administration, Australia remains confident the program will proceed as planned, reinforcing Western security ties in the region for decades to come.