Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, will travel to the United States and the United Kingdom this week for a series of high-level meetings.
Australia and the United States are the strongest of allies, with a shared vision for peace and security in the Indo-Pacific, close economic connections and deep personal ties.
This visit will be an opportunity to advance the relationship between our two countries and comes in the same week Australia and the United States mark the 75th anniversary of the ANZUS Treaty.
In Washington DC, the Deputy Prime Minister will meet senior members of the Administration, and discuss progress on key defence priorities, such as AUKUS, Force Posture initiatives and collaboration between our two industrial bases.
The Deputy Prime Minister will also visit San Francisco to meet with leading technology companies and promote Australia as a partner of choice for investment in sustainable AI infrastructure and trusted, inclusive, and secure AI innovation.
Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy, Andrew Charlton, will join these engagements in San Francisco.
In the United Kingdom, the Deputy Prime Minister will meet with the new Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP. This will be their first in‑person meeting since Secretary Streeting’s recent appointment and will be an opportunity to continue our close cooperation on the delivery of AUKUS and discuss our shared vision for peace and security.
Quotes attributable to Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles:
“AUKUS is full steam ahead and we working closely with the US and UK on the next steps towards delivering this historic endeavour.
“On the 75th anniversary of the ANZUS Treaty between Australia and the US we celebrate the enduring foundation of trust, cooperation, and shared purpose that underpins our Alliance today.
“I look forward to meeting the new Secretary of State for Defence, Wes Streeting, in London to progress work on AUKUS and further our cooperation across defence industry and regional security.”
