Australia and UK Sign 50-Year Geelong Treaty for AUKUS Submarines

Australia and the United Kingdom signed the Geelong Treaty—a 50-year bilateral defense agreement formalizing submarine construction cooperation for SSN-AUKUS. The treaty establishes legal frameworks for technology transfer, industrial cooperation at Osborne Naval Shipyard (Adelaide) and Barrow-in-Furness (UK), and personnel exchange. In February 2026, Australia made an A$310 million payment to the UK for long-lead nuclear propulsion components for the first two Australian SSN-AUKUS boats.