UK, Australia back embattled submarine deal with US

SYDNEY, July 25 (AFP): Britain said Friday it will join Australia in a 50-year commitment to their nuclear-powered submarine pact with the United States, seeking to bolster a deal that Washington has thrown into doubt.

Britain touted the "historic" new treaty with Australia in a government statement but gave few details beyond saying it would last for five decades and "underpin" the existing three-nation AUKUS pact.

"This historic Treaty confirms our AUKUS commitment for the next half century," said Defence Secretary John Healey, who is visiting Australia along with Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

A US defence official last month revealed that a review of AUKUS was underway to ensure it "aligned with the President's America First agenda" and that the US defence industrial base was "meeting our needs".

The British statement repeated previously released figures that the AUKUS submarine programme would lead to the creation of 21,000 UK jobs.

It said the submarine program was expected to be worth "up to" 20 billion pounds (US$27 billion) in exports over the next 25 years.

Under the 2021 AUKUS deal, Australia would acquire at least three Virginia-class submarines from the United States within 15 years, eventually manufacturing its own subs.