Geelong Treaty advances AUKUS goals, fosters interoperability among allies

Global Watch | 2025-08-12

The signing of the Geelong Treaty between Australia and Britain last month marked a significant milestone in the AUKUS partnership, underscoring the growing importance of burden sharing among allies to enhance global security and interoperability.

As nations increasingly embrace the US prioritization of collaborative defense efforts, the AUKUS trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States exemplifies how allies and partners working together can counter emerging threats and maintain stability in critical regions like the Indo-Pacific.

The partnership, agreed upon by Australia, Britain and the United States in 2021, involves supporting Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines and the collaborative development of advanced military technologies.

It is Australia's largest-ever defense project, with Canberra committing 368 billion AUD ($240 billion) over three decades.

The pact aims to counter China's ambitions in the Indo-Pacific, a region of growing strategic importance.

The Geelong Treaty, signed by Australia's Defense Minister Richard Marles and Britain's Defense Secretary John Healey on July 26, solidifies bilateral cooperation under AUKUS Pillar I, which covers Australia's new submarines.

It enables comprehensive collaboration on the design, build, operation, sustainment and disposal of SSN-AUKUS submarines, ensuring long-term defense integration between the two nations.

Britain's Ministry of Defense highlighted the economic benefits of the treaty, estimating up to £20 billion ($27.1 billion) in exports over the next 25 years. This economic dimension underscores how burden sharing not only enhances security but also drives innovation and investment in defense industries.

Interoperability in action

The AUKUS partnership is not just about submarines -- it is about fostering interoperability among allies to address shared challenges.

This commitment was evident during Australia's largest war games, the Talisman Sabre exercises, which involved 40,000 troops from 19 countries. Co-hosted by Australia and the United States, the exercises serve as a rehearsal for joint warfare to maintain Indo-Pacific stability.

Britain's increased participation in Talisman Sabre, including the deployment of aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, highlights the growing integration of allied forces.

Such exercises demonstrate how burden sharing translates into operational readiness, ensuring that allies can respond collectively to threats in a coordinated and effective manner.

The AUKUS pact and the Geelong Treaty also exemplify the benefits of burden sharing in modern defense strategies.

By pooling resources, expertise and capabilities, allies can achieve greater security outcomes than they could individually. This approach aligns with the US principle of Global Integrated Layered Defense (GILD), which emphasizes collaboration to address multidomain threats.

For Australia, Britain and the United States, AUKUS represents a commitment to shared security that extends beyond the Indo-Pacific. It sets a precedent for other nations to embrace burden sharing as a means of enhancing global stability and addressing emerging challenges.

Strength through unity

As geopolitical tensions rise, the importance of burden sharing among allies can't be overstated.

The AUKUS partnership, reinforced by the Geelong Treaty, demonstrates how nations can work together to build advanced capabilities, enhance interoperability and maintain stability in critical regions.

For Australia, Britain and the United States, this collaboration is not just a defense strategy -- it is a commitment to shared values and mutual security. As other nations look to strengthen their own partnerships, AUKUS serves as a model for how burden sharing can drive innovation, economic growth and global stability.

In an era of uncertainty, unity among allies remains the most powerful tool for ensuring peace and security. The AUKUS pact is a testament to the strength of partnerships and the enduring value of working together to address the challenges of a changing world.