Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Prime Minister has taken to support the delivery of AUKUS in 2026.

AUKUS is a unique strategic partnership which is fundamental to security and stability in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic, as well as to the UK’s NATO-first approach and Trans-Atlantic burden-sharing.

The government has made a landmark £6 billion investment in the UK Submarine Industrial Base to drive forward an 18-month submarine production drumbeat and grow our nuclear-powered, conventionally-armed submarine fleet to up to twelve. The successful deployment of HMS Anson to Western Australia and completion of the Submarine Maintenance Period (SMP) in February 2026 was further demonstration of the UK’s commitment to delivery. Additionally, the Defence Ministerial Meeting in May 2026 announced the first Signature Project under AUKUS Pillar II: cutting-edge payloads and enabling systems for AUKUS partners’ Uncrewed Undersea Vehicles (UUVs).