The UK government has highlighted the AUKUS partnership’s role in creating jobs and driving economic growth, with Defence Secretary John Healey speaking of its importance during a visit to Sheffield Forgemasters.

John Healey, along with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, toured the Sheffield steel production plant, which supports hundreds of local skilled jobs and will supply components for future UK and Australian nuclear-powered submarines.

The AUKUS submarine programme is expected to generate 7,000 additional jobs in Britain, with over 21,000 people working on the SSN-AUKUS programmes at its peak.

“Working with allies and partners is fundamental to our security and so it is a pleasure to host my Australian counterpart within my first fortnight as Defence Secretary. The UK and Australia are the closest of friends and our work through AUKUS is testament to this,” said Defence Secretary John Healey, quoted in the news release.

He added, “Sheffield Forgemasters is a shining light of UK industry that helps boost global security and employs skilled staff from the local community. This is just one example of how our hugely important partnership with our Australian and American partners can help drive jobs and growth across Britain.”

The AUKUS partnership, a trilateral defence and security agreement between the UK, US, and Australia, aims to enhance regional security and cooperation. The visit to Sheffield Forgemasters follows Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s reaffirmation of the UK’s commitment to the AUKUS partnership during discussions with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles praised the enduring relationship between Australia and the UK: “Australia and the United Kingdom’s relationship is enduring and forged in deep history. Be it under the defence and security cooperation agreement, or the work we continue to achieve under AUKUS, we are modernising our partnership.”

Sheffield Forgemasters, fully owned by the Ministry of Defence, employs around 650 skilled workers and has received significant investments from both the UK and Australian governments. The plant manufactures nuclear-grade steel components for submarines, including those for the SSN-AUKUS, the largest and most advanced attack submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy.

The Ministry of Defence says that the AUKUS supply chain presents substantial opportunities for British industry, potentially worth billions over the coming decades and supporting thousands of jobs in both the UK and Australia.