Defence minister Richard Marles ‘stood up’ during important visit to the UK about AUKUS deal
Defence Minister Richard Marles has been ‘stood up’ by his ‘good friend’ and British counterpart John Healey moments before a meeting in the United Kingdom.
Marles and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong travelled across the world this week to attend the 16th Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations.
The discussions focus on how Australia and the UK are working together to ‘shape a shared future, including for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific’.
But while travelling to a naval base in Portsmouth, England, to attend an event with Marles, Healey abruptly resigned via social media with immediate effect.
His resignation followed a row with the British Treasury over his Defence Investment Plan and the failure of Sir Keir Starmer’s government to adequately fund it.
Healey had been due to announce the proposal on Thursday, which called for defence spending to rise to three per cent of GDP by the end of the decade.
Following his resignation, staff at Australia’s UK High Commission indicated the media event outlining both nations’ AUKUS ambitions would go ahead.
However, about 90 minutes before it was due to begin, the event was cancelled.
British Defence Secretary John Healey (right) suddenly resigned from his cabinet role just before a media event with Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles (centre, beside US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, left)
Marles and Healey were due to outline both nations’ AUKUS ambitions (pictured: crew onboard HMAS Rankin at HMAS Stirling, Western Australia in March 2023)
In a statement to the Daily Mail, Marles said Australia-UK ties remain strong.
‘I have deeply valued the close and collaborative working relationship with my good friend John Healey as Secretary of Defence, as I have with his predecessors in the Australia-UK defence relationship,’ he said.
‘I have worked closely with all of them, particularly in respect of AUKUS. Our defence relationship is enduring, with deep connections, values and shared interests.
‘Acknowledging that ultimately this has been a decision for John, I wish him all the best for the future.’
British military expert Greg Bagwell told ABC News he did not expect the resignation to affect bilateral relations.
‘If I was in Australia right now, I wouldn’t be too despondent, notwithstanding the fact that the defence minister is about to be stood up, or has just been stood up,’ he said.
‘I’m sure they’ve had a chat privately.’
Back in Canberra, the Albanese government also downplayed the impact of the sudden resignation on the AUKUS pact.
Marles (right) and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong (centre left) were visiting their British counterparts, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper (left) and Healey (centre right) this week
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Under the $368 billion deal, Australia will buy three used Virginia-class submarines from the US before the new SSN-AUKUS boats enter service from the 2040s.
Cabinet Minister Tim Ayres said Mr Healey’s departure will have ‘no effect’ on the security pact.
‘This is a partnership that has deep support across all three countries, political systems, public services and defence agencies in all three countries,’ he told ABC Radio on Friday.
‘There will be, over the life of this agreement, many defence ministers across all three countries, many secretaries for war in the United States case, who are charged with delivering this program.’
During a press conference on Thursday, Marles said previous changes of government had not altered support for the deal.
‘Across all three countries, we have seen changes in government since AUKUS was first established, and yet there is an absolute commitment being expressed by all three countries to the pursuit of AUKUS,’ he said.
‘And the reason for that is because it fundamentally is in the national strategic interests of the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia, and all of that gives us a sense of confidence that we will be able to deliver this.’
But both the US and UK are experiencing submarine production issues, with a British House of Commons defence committee finding that ‘shortfalls or delays in funding’ could threaten the delivery of the new fleet.
Australia is relying on the AUKUS agreement to replace its ageing Collins-class submarines.
They are undergoing life-of-type extensions to keep them operational for an additional decade beyond their planned retirement dates and prevent a capability gap.
In his resignation letter to Sir Keir, Healey said there were credible ways to meet funding challenges and protect defence capability.
‘You have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats,’ he wrote.
