AUKUS and the Australia–UK Defence Partnership

Overview

At the Australia–UK Ministerial consultations (AUKMIN), held in London in December 2024, the two countries agreed on the enduring importance of the UK–Australia relationship in delivering economic growth and positive security benefits to their peoples and those of other countries. Ministers reaffirmed their enduring commitment to AUKUS, which aims to strengthen peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, and pledged to ensure that it fulfils its security and economic potential. .

The panellists will explore the strategic significance and deterrence impact of AUKUS and the inseparable nature of the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions. They will also discuss how AUKUS will transform UK–Australia defence industrial cooperation and reflect on progress to date.

The discussion will be moderated by Isabel Hilton OBE, RUSI Senior Associate Fellow and founder of the China Dialogue Trust.

About the Speakers

His Excellency Stephen Smith was appointed to his current role in January 2023. In August 2022, he was asked by the Australian Government to co-lead its Defence Strategic Review. Prior to that, he was Professor of Public International Law at the University of Western Australia. Mr Smith previously served as Minister for Defence (2010–2013), Minister for Foreign Affairs (2007–2010), and Minister for Trade (2010).

Sir Stephen Lovegrove GCMG KCB has been AUKUS Adviser to the UK Government since August 2024. Sir Stephen was the UK National Security Adviser from March 2021 to September 2022. Prior to that, he was Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence from 2016 to 2021 and Permanent Secretary for the Department of Energy and Climate Change from 2013 to 2016. He is Chair of Rolls-Royce SMR and a non-executive director on the board of The Wellcome Trust.