UK Defence Secretary John Healey visits HMS Prince of Wales in Darwin
As Russia continues to play on the minds of Europe’s strategic leaders, the UK has turned its attention to the Indo Pacific - a move which Defence Secretary John Healey embraces.
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The United Kingdom isn’t getting bogged down in NATO-exclusive affairs, insists UK Defence Secretary John Healey, who says Britain has a “direct interest” in the Indo-Pacific.
On Sunday, Mr Healey left the Melbourne metropolis for tropical Darwin, where he visited UK aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales which is participating in Exercise Talisman Sabre.
The Queen Elizabeth-Class ship is the first UK carrier to visit the Top End since 1997.
Alongside Defence Minister Richard Marles, Mr Healey spent the afternoon scoping out the warship before taking questions from the media.
Asked why there was a renewed interest in Indo-Pacific, Mr Healey said the decision had been led by a fresh analysis.
“We’ve just published last month a strategic defence review that recognises that our approach is NATO first, but it’s not NATO only,” he said.
“And so this carrier being alongside Darwin, (in) Talisman Sabre, the ultimate visits that (Foreign Secretary) David Lammy and I have done all demonstrate that.”
For decades, the UK have had a modest military presence in Northern Australia, regularly contributing to major training activities.
However, the UK military has surged Down Under in recent years.
In 2024, more than 400 British commandos joined their Australian and US counterparts in the Northern Territory’s dry season to rehearse various amphibious operations.
Soon after, the Royal Air Force provided a multi-faced contribution to air activity Exercise Pitch Black, sending a squadron of Typhoon fighter jets and a strategic transport aircraft.
Now, more than 3000 British troops are partaking in Exercise Talisman Sabre – the largest UK turnout in the activity’s history.
Why the shift? The UK economy, according to Mr Healey.
“Nearly 20 per cent of the UK’s trade is with the Indo-Pacific,” he said.
“We have a direct interest in international rules, freedom of the seas, the freedom of navigation and the stability and security of the Indo-Pacific region – we can play a part alongside allies in trying to guarantee that.”
Asked if the UK would step up its presence, Mr Healey confirmed further influence was on the way.
“You can expect a continued deepening of our relationship with Australia that is part-industrial, part-military, part-diplomatic.”
Meanwhile, Mr Marles said the arrival of HMS Prince of Wales was made possible by significant Commonwealth investment, with up to $18bn set aside to supporting military infrastructure in the north.
“This wharf is a perfect example of the kind of investments that we are making in our northern places,” he said.
“So we’re really mindful of how significant our northern bases are – they’re being heavily utilised in terms of Exercise Talisman Sabre and we will continue to roll out that investment and see the increase in capability across them.”
With Foreign Minister Penny Wong not holding a press conference, both Mr Marles and Mr Healey were also asked about a two-state solution in the Middle East.
“We have long supported a two state solution. It has been a bipartisan position in Australian politics, literally for decades to see the pursuit of a two state solution, because a two state solution is the only way you’ll ultimately have an enduring peace in the Middle East,” Mr Marles said.
Mr Healey said the UK would also push for two-state solution, but reinforced the need for a ceasefire.
“But our immediate concern is to step up pressure for a ceasefire and an end to the fighting,” he said.
“We’re doing that publicly, we’re doing that diplomatically, we’re doing that privately, and we’re doing that with allies, because we have to have an end to the fighting so that Gaza can be flooded with the aid that Palestinians civilians have desperate need.”
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Originally published as UK Defence Secretary John Healey visits HMS Prince of Wales in Darwin
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