Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles has wished former UK Defence Secretary John Healey “all the best” after Healey abruptly resigned from the British government.
Healey’s departure is being viewed as another challenge for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and reportedly followed disagreement over a new defence spending plan that Healey believed did not provide the resources required to address growing security threats.
The resignation also affected Australian defence engagements in the United Kingdom.
Marles was in Britain for the Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) involving defence and foreign ministers and had been scheduled to visit the Royal Navy base at Portsmouth alongside Healey.
The planned event was later cancelled following Healey’s resignation.
In a statement, Marles praised his working relationship with the departing defence secretary.
“I have deeply valued the close and collaborative working relationship with my good friend John Healey as Secretary of Defence, as I have with his predecessors on the Australia-UK defence relationship,” Marles said.
“I have worked closely with all of them particularly in respect of Aukus.”
Marles said the defence partnership between Australia and the United Kingdom remained strong despite the leadership change.
“Our defence relationship is enduring, with deep connections, values and shared interests.”
“Acknowledging that ultimately this has been a decision for John, I wish him all the best for the future.”
Guardian Australia reported that Marles still travelled to Portsmouth after the cancellation, where he met members of the Royal Navy with a junior British defence minister acting as host.
A day earlier, Marles had expressed confidence in the United Kingdom’s ongoing commitment to the Aukus submarine partnership.