Rep. Courtney Statement on AUKUS Defense Ministers’ Meeting Communique

NORWICH, CT – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), the Co-Chair of the Friends of Australia Caucus, issued the following statement after the Right Honourable John Healey MP, Secretary of State for Defence, United Kingdom hosted the Honourable Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Australia and the Honorable Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary of Defense, United States (U.S.) at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London, the United Kingdom (UK) to review progress in and reaffirm their commitment to the AUKUS partnership.

“Today’s communique powerfully demonstrates that the AUKUS security agreement is showing real life, tangible progress. The completion of joint training of hundreds of Australian naval personnel; the integration of shipyard work; and adoption of ‘momentous’ reforms of defense export controls to enable technology transfer under Pillar II of the agreement, are just a few examples of how swiftly the alliance has executed the objectives of the Optimal Pathway announced in March 2023. There is much more to do, yet the communique is proof that the AUKUS partners are determined to achieve its goals of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

To read about Rep. Courtney’s leadership in Congress on the AUKUS mission as the Co-Chair of the Friends of Australia Caucus, click here.

To watch Rep. Courtney’s floor speech on the graduation of Royal Australian Navy personnel from the Naval Submarine School in Groton, click here

To read a statement from the defense leaders, click here.