UK and Australia deepen AUKUS submarine pact with 50-year treaty

The United Kingdom and Australia will sign a new five-decade treaty to cement the AUKUS submarine pact and bolster shipbuilding in both countries as the Trump administration continues to scrutinise the ambitious technology-sharing deal, Report informs via ABC News.

The new pact is expected to be announced by Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles — along with their British counterparts David Lammy and John Healey — in the wake of annual AUKMIN talks in Sydney today.

While full details are not yet clear, the agreement is expected to cover the "full breadth" of cooperation between the UK and Australia to develop the next-generation AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine — including to develop the workforce and infrastructure Australia will need to operate and sustain the highly sophisticated military platform.