AUKUS Remains on Track Despite UK Defence Secretarys Resignation: Minister

Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles (L) walks with former UK Defence Secretary John Healey in Sydney, Australia, on July 25, 2025. David Gray/AFP via Getty ImagesThe sudden resignation of UK Defence Secretary John Healey hours before a scheduled meeting with Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles has prompted fresh scrutiny of the AUKUS security pact, with the Labor government insisting the trilateral agreement remains on track.Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres moved quickly to reassure Australians that the departure of one of the UK’s most senior defence figures would not derail the multi-billion-dollar submarine partnership between Australia, the UK, and the United States.