AUKMIN: Defence Minister Richard Marles, Foreign Minister Penny Wong to meet UK counterparts

Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong are set to hold critical talks with their UK counterparts, with AUKUS likely to dominate.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong will meet with their UK counterparts on Friday, with AUKUS set to dominate discussions.

The annual AUKMIN talks with UK Secretary of State David Lammy and Defence Secretary John Healey are due to take place at Admiralty House in Sydney on Friday.

It’s the second meeting of its kind since UK Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer was elected in July 2024.

Conversations are expected to focus on deepening the defence relationship between the two countries, as well as emerging challenges as a result of China’s increasing dominance in the Indo-Pacific.

The group will then travel to Darwin to witness the deployment of a UK Carrier Strike Group warship as part of the Talisman Sabre exercises.

Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong will meet with their UK counterparts on Friday. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

The group will then travel to Darwin to observe a deployment of UK warships as part of the Talisman Sabre exercises. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

Mr Marles said the UK was a “critical partner for Australia”.

“We continue to work closely together, including through the AUKUS partnership, to address shared strategic challenges in an increasingly complex and uncertain world,” he said.

“I look forward to discussions in the coming days to advance our enduring relationship.”

His sentiments were echoed by Senator Wong and said “strengthening and modernising” Australia’s “longstanding” partnership with the UK was critical to advancing our “shared interests” during “uncertain times”.

“We take the world as it is – but together, we are working to shape it for the better,” she said.

“From building defence capability and boosting economic resilience, to standing up for human rights, advancing gender equality, and defending the international rules and institutions that protect us all.”

The AUKUS security pact is expected to dominate conversations. Picture: NewsWire/ Nicholas Eagar

The talks come amid anxieties about the AUKUS security partnership between Australia, the United States and UK, with noted sceptic Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s policy chief, undertaking a review into the deal.

However Sir Keir appeared to ease concerns about the future of the deal following a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump at the G7 in Alberta, Canada.

Asked if AUKUS was going ahead, Sir Keir responded with: “Yep, we’re proceeding with that, it’s a really important deal to both of us”.

Anthony Albanese has also watered down concerns, saying a review was expected due to the new Trump administration, with the UK undertaking a similar review following the change of government.

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister confirmed Australia recently completed a scheduled $800m payment to the US to help bolster their capacity to build warships, bringing the total to $1.6bn.

“We support AUKUS. We have an agreement. It’s a treaty-level agreement with our partners that was signed, of course, in San Diego with the United States and the United Kingdom,” he told the ABC.