The PRESS Pad

Australia and the UK have signed the landmark Geelong Treaty, a 50-year bilateral defence agreement under AUKUS Pillar I, committing to the joint development of nuclear-powered SSN-AUKUS submarines. Signed in Geelong, Victoria, the treaty marks a major step in long-term strategic cooperation—even as the US reviews its participation in the alliance. The pact promises to boost defence capabilities, create jobs, and strengthen regional security in the Indo-Pacific.