Australia and the United Kingdom signed a new defense and security cooperation agreement on 21 March 2024. Defense ministers of both countries have said this agreement is necessary to deal with “contemporary challenges” to sustaining a global rules-based order.The agreement was signed by Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and his UK counterpart Grant Shapps following their annual bilateral defense ministerial meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday 21 March 2024 as part of the Australia-UK Ministerial (AUKMIN) meeting, which was first held in 2006 .[1]
Marles used the following statements in his written statement regarding the agreement:[2]
“Australia’s relationship with the United Kingdom is dynamic and enduring. From the UK’s support for Ukraine and its leadership in efforts to address the Houthi threat, to its increasing contributions in the Pacific and Indo-Pacific, we continue to work closely together to support a global rules-based order.”
The agreement also includes provisions that would make it easier for relevant forces to operate jointly in each other’s countries, such as joint training of Ukrainian troops in the United Kingdom. Shapps said the agreement formalizes how the two countries will consult on issues affecting each other’s sovereignty and regional security. [3]
Shapps, who held a joint press conference with Marles at the Parliament Building in Canberra on March 21, 2024, used the following statements:
“I think one of the most important elements is that it defines a mechanism by which we will consult when any of our countries are threatened and makes those discussions more formal than they currently are. It must be said that we already cooperate significantly on defense matters. Therefore, we will always try to deepen this cooperation between our countries.”
Other areas covered by the agreement include continued cooperation on capability development, including the AUKUS alliance, as well as closer cooperation on submarine warfare, intelligence and military exercises. The renewal of the bilateral defense agreement and the commitment made at the AUKMIN conference held in England last year is unlikely to come as a surprise to other powers in the region, namely China. Beijing frequently and strongly criticizes defense partnerships between countries that it sees as aimed at containing its targets in South East Asia and the South Pacific.[4]
Australia hosted high-level officials from China at the beginning of the same week, and regional security and stability were on the agenda of the foreign ministers of the two countries. In his opening speech before the bilateral meeting on March 20, 2024, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that Australia should pursue an “independent” foreign policy and not allow “third parties” to disrupt the ties between the two countries. These comments were considered as a veiled reference to the United States of America (USA), which is trying to limit China through AUKUS.[5]
The Australian government’s plan to develop nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS treaty remains a key sticking point in China-Australia relations, which have been volatile in recent years. This new defense and security cooperation agreement between Australia and the United Kingdom can be seen as a joint response to global security challenges. Such alliances can enable countries with common interests to come together to increase their security and maintain global order.
The AUKUS agreement can also be considered as part of efforts to maintain regional balance in the face of China’s increasing global influence. The positive relations that China has developed with regional states worry Western powers, especially Australia, the USA and the United Kingdom.
The development of nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS agreement is causing tensions between China and Australia. Such a military capacity increase could change the balance of power in the region and increase China’s concerns. This may cause the relations between both countries to become even more strained.
It is very important for Australia to balance its relations with China, stay away from alliances such as AUKUS that will escalate tensions, and diversify its foreign policy as much as possible. This highlights the need for Australia to manage multilateral diplomacy and relationships in a balanced manner. At the same time, Beijing’s pro-dialogue and cooperation attitude can be seen as the main reason for the balanced relations with Canberra. However, Beijing expects the same understanding from Canberra.
[1] “Australia and UK Sign Defense and Security Treaty to Meet ‘Contemporary Challenges’”, Associated Press News, https://apnews.com/article/australia-united-kingdom-defence-aukmin-c5ff6c9064c464b57ddf5eb0abded827, (Date of Access: 21.03.2024).
[2] “Australia and UK Sign Defense and Security Treaty to Meet ‘Contemporary Challenges’”, The Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/20/australia-united-kingdom-defence-aukmin/091d8c8a-e72c-11ee-9eba-1558f848ec25_story.html, (Date of Access: 21.03.2024).
[3] “Australia and UK Sign Defense and Security Treaty to Meet ‘Contemporary Challenges’”, Associated Press News, a.g.e., (Date of Access: 21.03.2024).
[4] “Australia and UK Sign Defense and Security Treaty to Meet ‘Contemporary Challenges’”, The Washington Post, a.g.e., (Date of Access: 21.03.2024).
[5] “Australia and UK Sign Defense and Security Treaty to Meet ‘Contemporary Challenges’”, The Washington Post, a.g.e., (Date of Access: 21.03.2024).
