OREANDA-NEWS The UK government has announced a new 50-year agreement with Australia on cooperation within the framework of the AUKUS defense partnership.

"The new 50-year AUKUS agreement will support British and Australian submarine programs, support tens of thousands of jobs in the UK and Australia, strengthen the industrial capabilities of both countries, and supply submarines that ensure the security of the UK and our allies," the British government said in a statement on its website.

It notes that the new agreement will contribute to the development of the British defense industry, the growth of expertise to 20 billion pounds over the next 25 years and will create more than 7 thousand jobs.

The head of the British Ministry of Defense, John Hilli, said that "close relations with Australia in the field of defense, thanks to our joint work in support of Ukraine, the exchange of important intelligence information and the development of innovative technologies, ensure our security at home and strength abroad."

The United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said the new bilateral treaty "protects a free and open Indo-Pacific region."

The AUKUS Defense Partnership was concluded between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States in September 2021, its goal was to strengthen security and defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

As part of the agreement, the countries planned to jointly develop advanced military technologies, including the creation of nuclear submarines for Australia in non-nuclear equipment.

In June, the Financial Times wrote about US plans to audit the agreement, which caused concern in London and Canberra.