英澳簽署新國防協議

英澳簽署新國防協議 軍隊互駐紮訓練    台灣醒報 20240321

為遏阻亞太地區的軍事擴張，英澳簽署國防合作協議，未來雙方軍隊將更容易相互駐紮！英澳防長21日簽署包括「駐軍地位協定」的國防合作協議，不只有助於雙方軍隊前往對方國家受訓，更能夠強化AUKUS成員國的相互合作。

駐軍地位協定

《路透社》報導，英國外交大臣卡梅倫和國防部長沙普斯21日與澳洲國防部長馬勒斯舉行年度會談，並簽署一項新的國防合作協議，其中包括「駐軍地位協定」，旨在使兩國士兵未來更容易在雙方國家部署和行動。

「我們需要比以往任何時候都做好更多準備，尤其立場也要改變。」沙普斯會後表示，「駐軍地位協定」要求兩國遭受威脅時要相互協商，尤其現今軍事共同行動的需求相當緊迫，世界也已經從戰後（post-war）轉向戰前（pre-war）。

英澳軍事密切合作

《ABCnews》指出，該協議使英澳兩國以維護基於規則（rule-based）的全球秩序。馬勒斯在書面聲明中表示，隨著世界變得更加複雜和不確定，我們將繼續密切合作，支持基於規則的全球秩序，「澳洲與英國的關係充滿活力且持久。」

美英澳之間的AUKUS協議，旨在遏阻中國在亞太地區的軍事擴張，並承諾協助澳洲打造一支核動力潛艦艦隊，而這次簽署的國防合作協議，澳洲軍隊將能更容易在英國核潛艦上受訓，或讓英國軍隊更容易駐紮在澳洲。

 

Australia and the United Kingdom commit to modernising our defence relationship    Australian Defense Ministers 20240321

Today, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP, and United Kingdom Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, signed a new defence and security cooperation agreement at Parliament House, Canberra, updating the partnership to meet contemporary challenges.

The agreement includes a status of forces agreement, making it easier for the respective forces to operate together in each other’s countries – as seen in the joint training of Ukrainian troops in the UK, and as the UK will do through its contribution to Submarine Rotational Force-West in Australia.

The agreement also formalises the established practice of consulting on issues that affect our sovereignty and regional security.

The new agreement was signed following annual ministerial defence talks as part of the Australia-UK Ministerial consultations (AUKMIN).

Ministers also agreed a range of initiatives to give immediate effect to this deepening cooperation, including:

• The UK’s contribution to the Combined Intelligence Centre – Australia, within the Defence Intelligence Organisation
• Commitment to develop a joint climate action plan by AUKMIN 2025
• Continued cooperation on capability development, including through AUKUS
• Establishment of elevated joint staff talks, to ensure our operational cooperation meets contemporary challenges
• Closer collaboration on undersea warfare, autonomous sea mine clearance, science, technology, and our workforces
• The UK’s contribution to exercises Talisman Sabre, Pitch Black, and Predators Run
• Australia’s support for the UK’s Littoral Response Group-South and a carrier strike group visit to the Indo-Pacific in 2025.

The signing of this agreement delivers on a commitment made at AUKMIN 2023 to refresh the bilateral defence treaty.

Quote attributable to Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP:

“Australia’s relationship with the UK is dynamic and enduring. From the UK’s leadership of support for Ukraine and efforts to address the Houthi threat, to increasing contributions in the Pacific and the Indo-Pacific, we continue to work closely together to support a global rules-based order.

“As the world becomes more complex and uncertain, we must modernise our most important partnerships.

“The agreements we reached today will secure this outcome into the future.”

 

UK and Australia commit to modernising and deepening defence relationship     UK 20240320

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps signed a new Defence and Security Cooperation Agreement during a visit to Canberra

A new Defence and Security Cooperation Agreement was signed today at Parliament House, Canberra, by Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles.

This agreement strengthens our partnership to meet the challenges of a more dangerous world.

It includes an agreement which will make it easier for our Armed Forces to operate together in each other’s countries, as is currently happening through Operation Interflex – the joint training of Ukrainian troops in the UK. It will also help facilitate UK submarine crews visiting Australia as part of the AUKUS partnership.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

The UK and Australia fought side by side 80 years ago against tyranny on the beaches of Normandy. Today our two great nations continue to stand together to secure peace and prosperity the world over.

We’re facing the challenges of a more dangerous world together, and through partnerships like this agreement, AUKUS, and our continued support to Ukraine, we’re defending our freedoms and shared values.

Australia Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said:

Australia’s relationship with the UK is dynamic and enduring. From the UK’s leadership of support for Ukraine and efforts to address the Houthi threat, to increasing contributions in the Pacific and the Indo-Pacific, we continue to work closely together to support a global rules-based order.

As the world becomes more complex and uncertain, we must modernise our most important partnerships.

The agreements we reached today will secure this outcome into the future.

The agreement also formalises the already established practice of our nations consulting each other on issues that affect sovereignty and regional security.

The new agreement was signed after the Defence Ministers met for annual talks in Australia, ahead of wider meetings together with Foreign Ministers in Adelaide, known as AUKMIN.