Description: Australia and the UK have bolstered their cooperation within the AUKUS defense agreement by signing the so – called, Geelong Treaty, named after the meeting by the foreign officials conducted in the city of Geelong, in Victoria state. The treaty outlines the longevity of the UK – Australia partnership within the AUKUS agreement with additional investment by the UK in the development of nuclear-powered submarines for Australia, which would reportedly result in $27 billion in manufacturing gains for the UK. The meeting was attended by UK’s and Australia’s Foreign and Defense officials which was also highlighted by increased participation by the UK in this year’s Talisman Sabre exercises, sponsored by Australia and the US.
Impact: The US internal review of the AUKUS agreement has effectively forced the UK’s invested involvement in the defense agreement, after Australia reconfirmed its commitment last week by injecting the second payment installment of $525 million. The recent developments surrounding the trilateral Indo – Pacific partnership mirror the US foreign policy, which has practically caused the bolstering of the AUKUS partnership through conditioned foreign policy methods. The US would most probably cut short its review of the AUKUS agreement, having garnered the necessary support from its allies to the extent where the UK’s involvement would be on par with the US project considerations in strengthening Australia’s naval defenses.