31
Accepted in Part
Expanding Pillar 2 to include additional partners offers potential opportunities, but it will add a...
Recommendation
Expanding Pillar 2 to include additional partners offers potential opportunities, but it will add a further layer of complexity and negotiation to what is already proving to be a difficult task. Whilst remaining positive about a future expansion of Pillar 2, we reluctantly conclude that the focus for now must be on achieving tangible results within the existing trilateral: AUKUS must first deepen collaboration before widening it. (Conclusion, Paragraph 146) Conclusion
Government Response Summary
The government highlights strong trilateral progress in Pillar II, including a funded project on Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle systems, aligning with deepening collaboration, but also explicitly states that AUKUS partners are exploring potential collaboration with additional countries, thereby not fully accepting the 'deepen before widening' constraint.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
AUKUS partners are making strong trilateral progress on Pillar II activity, exemplified by the first-of-its-kind project on Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle systems and payloads announced by AUKUS Defence Ministers in May 2026, along with £150 million funding for the project. This signature project demonstrates the maturity and momentum of Pillar II among the three AUKUS partner nations and will strengthen our collective warfighting advantage. In exploring potential collaboration on specific Pillar II advanced capability projects with a select number of additional countries, AUKUS partners have always been clear that this is dependent on mutual interest and benefit.
Addressee Bodies
Ministry of Defence
Timeline
Recommendation age
0.3 yrs
Report published
28 Apr 2026