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The appointment, unveiled today, is part of an ongoing drive to unlock further opportunities from one of the most significant defence collaborations between Australia, the US and the UK.
British Defence Secretary John Healey said: “AUKUS is a historic alliance which not only reinforces peace and stability across the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions but also creates thousands of highly skilled jobs and drives investment in communities across the UK. It demonstrates how defence can be a powerful engine for growth across our three nations while keeping our citizens secure at home and strengthening our international presence.”
AUKUS, a landmark security and defence pact, is set to enable Australia to operate a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines in the Indo-Pacific, while bolstering the defence industrial bases of both the UK and the US. In addition, the partnership aims to accelerate the development and deployment of advanced technologies across all three nations.
“Sir Stephen is fully committed to ensuring that the UK plays a leading role within AUKUS,” Healey said. “He brings a wealth of experience in national security, and I am immensely grateful for his willingness to take on this appointment. I look forward to working closely with him and our partners in the US and Australia as we elevate the AUKUS partnership to new heights.”
The AUKUS submarine programme is forecast to generate 7,000 additional jobs in Britain, further supporting the government’s economic Plan for Change. Sir Stephen’s role will be to support both the Defence Secretary and the National Security Adviser in advancing the AUKUS agenda.
His extensive experience, ranging from his previous tenure as national security adviser during the initial AUKUS announcement in 2021 to serving as the Prime Minister’s defence industrial adviser and as permanent secretary at the Ministry of Defence, positions him as a key figure in shaping the future of the alliance.
Last year, the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary tasked Sir Stephen with reviewing the UK’s progress in fulfilling its core commitments under AUKUS. His review, which identifies barriers and sets out recommendations to further capitalise on the partnership with the US and Australia, was presented to them earlier this year. A public version of the report is expected to be released after it is shared with US and Australian officials.
Reflecting on the partnership, Sir Stephen said: “When AUKUS was announced in 2021, it was rightly hailed as the most significant capability collaboration since the Mutual Defence Agreement of 1958.
The strategic relevance of AUKUS has only increased since then. It is a uniquely powerful alliance that will foster the development and deployment of cutting-edge capabilities, help revitalise Britain’s defence industrial base, and provide sustained employment for thousands across the UK, the US and Australia.”
Sir Stephen will officially begin his role as Special Representative tomorrow. In a busy week ahead, he is due to travel to Washington, DC, to present the review findings to the US government, before moving on to Canberra to share the outcomes with the Australian government following the federal election.
“I am delighted to accept the role as the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on AUKUS,” Sir Stephen said. “I look forward to starting work immediately to help maximise the potential of this vital partnership.”
The AUKUS arrangement is driving more unified defence and industrial collaboration, enhanced information and technology sharing, and increased strategic resilience. Alongside the development of SSN-AUKUS and new military technologies under its Pillars One and Two, the pact represents a multi-billion-pound investment into British industry, fuelling the creation of thousands of new jobs and bolstering the industrial base for years to come.
