AUKUS Remains on Track Despite UK Defence Secretary’s Resignation: Minister

Labor Minister Tim Ayres says the resignation will have no impact on AUKUS, arguing the agreement enjoys support that transcends individual political leaders.

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 Images

The 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.

Ayres said the agreement enjoyed support that extended well beyond individual political leaders.

“This is a partnership that has deep support across all three countries’ political systems, within the public service and the defence agencies in all three countries, and indeed with the defence industry, because it’s in the interests of all three countries,” he told ABC Radio on June 12.

“Over the life of this agreement … there will be many ministers for defence for all three countries, many secretaries for war in the United States case, who are there charged with delivering this program.”

His comments came after Healey and UK Armed Forces Minister Al Carns resigned from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government amid a dispute over defence spending.

A joint press conference Healey was due to hold with Marles at the Portsmouth naval base was cancelled following the resignation.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the Defence Department for comments.

Defence Funding Dispute

In his resignation letter, Healey argued the UK was not investing enough in defence despite growing global security threats.

He said the government’s long-awaited Defence Investment Plan (DIP) did not provide the resources needed to meet emerging challenges.

“You have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats,” Healey wrote.

“I would not be able to accept a DIP settlement that does not give our forces the resources they need. I am now left with no other option than to submit my resignation as your defence secretary.”

Carns echoed those concerns, saying he could not continue defending defence spending levels he believed were inadequate.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis was later appointed as Healey’s replacement.

The developments have renewed attention on AUKUS, which has already faced criticism over costs, delivery timelines and changes to the submarine acquisition plan.

Under the revised arrangement, Australia is expected to receive three second-hand Virginia-class submarine submarines from the United States. The original framework envisaged a mix of new and used American submarines.

Despite the latest turbulence, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has maintained that AUKUS remains “full steam ahead.”

Just two days before his resignation, Healey joined UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper in hosting Marles and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong at the 16th Australia–United Kingdom Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) in London.

The talks focused on strengthening cooperation across defence, foreign policy, economic security and regional stability, including efforts to support a “peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”