• Australia and Britain signed a 50-year treaty enhancing their AUKUS nuclear submarine partnership.
• The treaty focuses on comprehensive cooperation in submarine design, operation, and support.
• Committing A$368 billion, Australia aims to counter threats in the Indo-Pacific.
• The treaty was signed during discussions coinciding with significant military exercises.
• US involvement continues as part of the broader trilateral AUKUS initiative.

On Saturday, Australia announced the signing of a long-term treaty with the United Kingdom to augment their cooperation under the AUKUS nuclear submarine partnership. The agreement, known as The Geelong Treaty, establishes a framework for 50 years of collaboration between the two nations, signed by Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles and UK Defence Secretary John Healey in Geelong, Victoria. Marles highlighted the importance of this partnership for maintaining regional and global security, stating, "Our close friendship with the United Kingdom is crucial" according to aa, channelnewsasia, and reuters.

The AUKUS pact, originally established in 2021 among Australia, the UK, and the US, aims to provide Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines to counter China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The updated treaty signed on Saturday builds on existing commitments, ensuring cooperation in designing, building, operating, sustaining, and disposing of the submarines, along with developing necessary personnel and infrastructure, as mentioned by aa, channelnewsasia, and reuters.

This treaty represents Australia's largest defense investment, with A$368 billion allocated over the next three decades toward the AUKUS program, which includes significant financial commitments to U.S. production capabilities. The pact was discussed amid ongoing large-scale military exercises, Talisman Sabre 2023, involving 40,000 troops from 19 nations, underscoring the strategic importance of such defenses in the Indo-Pacific according to aa, channelnewsasia, and reuters.