Paul Keating says Richard Marles is ‘flogging a dead seahorse’ with the landmark AUKUS agreement

The former Prime Minister has given a scathing review of the government’s submarine planes, raising concerns over Australia’s military autonomy as high-level meetings take place.

Paul Keating has accused Defence Minister Richard Marles of “flogging a dead seahorse”.

Mr Marles claimed the deal would deliver the same capability that the former Prime Minister had been planning for in his time, saying it was “utterly essential for Australia’s future”.

However, Mr Keating was having none of it, unleashing a blistering attack in a statement on Friday with a number of key criticisms as AUKUS leaders met in London.

“This would only be true until the Prime Minister and Marles got their phone call from the President, seeking to mobilise Australian military assets … both would click their heels in alacrity and agreement,” Mr Keating said.

Mr Marles spoke with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J Austin III in the UK.

According to the US Department of Defence, Mr Marles and Mr Austin discussed strengthening the US-Australia alliance, and affirmed their commitment to deepen bilateral defence co-operation across a range of Alliance initiatives, including on force posture, defence industrial base integration, and advanced capabilities.

Australia's Defense Minister Richard Marles speaks during a joint press conference during the AUKUS Defense Ministerial Meeting in London. Picture: AFP

The US Defence Department said the pair discussed global security and underscored the importance of advancing defence co-operation with regional partners and allies to support their shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

It comes as Australia and the UK negotiated a new treaty for the development of their jointly designed SSN-AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine amid concerns about project delivery.

Richard Marles, Britain's Defence Secretary John Healey and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin ahead of the AUKUS meeting in London. Picture: AFP

Richard Marles, the US’ Lloyd Austin and the UK’s John Healey in London. Picture: Getty Images

UK’s Ministry of Defence declared the new treaty would define the defence relationship between the two countries “for decades”.

“The treaty will establish the strategic and operational framework for bilateral co-operation under AUKUS with a focus on the core elements of the delivery of SSN-AUKUS,” they said in a statement.

“Given the importance of accelerating the design, build and delivery of SSN-AUKUS, Australia and the UK agreed these negotiations should occur at pace and with high priority.

Render of the SSN-AUKUS Nuclear-Powered Submarine. Picture: BAE Systems

“It is estimated that facilitating the SSN-AUKUS build in Australia will see billions of pounds of submarine components exported from the UK through our defence industry supply chains.”

Defence Minister Richard Marles and British Defence Secretary John Healey will announce the treaty negotiations following their joint meeting with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin during AUKUS ministerial talks in London late Thursday (AEST).

It’s first meeting of AUKUS defence ministers ever to be held outside the United States.

The two ministers aim to wrap up the treaty talks with high priority to accelerate the SSN-AUKUS program.

However, they are not expected to disclose further details about the treaty’s contents or scope.

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles with Britain's Defence Secretary John Healey. Picture: Getty Images

“This is a partnership that will boost jobs, growth and prosperity across our three nations, as well as strengthening our collective security,” Mr Healey said.

“I’m delighted that we will soon be commencing negotiations on a bilateral AUKUS treaty with Australia, which will help create a more secure and stable Indo-Pacific for decades to come.”

The US is set to sell two used Virginia-class submarines to Australia in the early 2030s, with a third expected later in the decade.

Meanwhile, Britain plans to launch its first SSN-AUKUS submarine around the same period, while Australia is projected to receive its five Adelaide-built submarines in the 2040s.

By negotiating a treaty, Britain and Australia aim to secure the AUKUS-SSN timetable and plan.

Before Mr Marles headed to London, he stopped at Norway where he discussed missile technology with his counterpart in Oslo Bjorn Arild Gram.

Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles will be in attendance at the AUKUS meeting in London. Picture: NewsWire

Last month, the Australian government announced it will begin making its own naval strike missiles after signing a deal with Norwegian defence firm Kongsberg.

The plan is to manufacture modern naval strike missiles and joint strike missiles with a range over 275 kilometres near Newcastle in the NSW Hunter Valley.

“Kongsberg has a presence in Australia now, and it will be opening up a facility to manufacture both the Joint Strike Missile and the Naval Strike Missile in Australia,” he said.

“What I think that has done, it’s given a strategic dimension to the relationship between Australia and Norway.

“Obviously, we’re on other sides of the world but we share values, we share a great strategic alignment, we have a high level of trust and it’s really opening the door for a much greater engagement in our bilateral relationship.”