The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP, will travel to the United States and United Kingdom this week to meet with counterparts, to discuss shared security objectives.
During his visit, to take place the week beginning Monday 30 October, the Deputy Prime Minister will undertake critical engagements to further progress Australia’s acquisition of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
This will build on the success of the Prime Minister’s state visit last week which had a focus on moving AUKUS forward, including the progression of important legislation that would see a seamless defence industrial base between our respective countries.
In the US, the Deputy Prime Minister will meet with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, senior members of the Biden Administration, members of Congress and defence industry representatives. He will build on the progress made at AUSMIN 2023 in Australia in July and last week by Prime Minister Albanese.
While in the UK, the Deputy Prime Minister will meet with newly appointed Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, Deputy Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP and defence industry representatives.
The ministers will focus on continuing to modernise the Australia-UK relationship, deepening defence and security collaboration in support of global peace and security, and realising our shared commitments under the AUKUS partnership.
The Deputy Prime Minister will also represent Australia at the Artificial Intelligence Safety Summit Leaders’ level discussions, alongside Minister Husic attending Ministers’ level discussions. This will be an important opportunity to work with key partners to shape this significant field of emerging technology.
The Deputy Prime Minister will also meet the Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP to thank him for his person leadership and commitment to the bilateral relationship during his time as the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Defence.
Quotes attributable to Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP:
“This is a valuable opportunity to meet with my counterparts in the United States and the United Kingdom and to build on the strong progress we have made on Australia’s acquisition of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
“Australia’s alliance with the United States is unprecedented in scale, scope and significance and I look forward to building on our productive discussions at AUSMIN in July.
“The visit to the United Kingdom will be an important opportunity to meet my counterparts, Secretary of State for Defence, Grant Shapps, and Deputy Prime Minister, Oliver Dowden, to discuss increased cooperation across the breadth of our relationship.
“I look forward to attending the Artificial Intelligence Safety Summit in London and working with global leaders to discuss both the opportunities and risks surrounding this transformative technology.”
