New Delhi, April 17 -- In a major security development in the Pacific, Australia and United Kingdom (UK) have signed a Defence and Security Cooperation Treaty. The treaty was signed by Australian Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and his UK counterpart Grant Shapps following annual bilateral ministerial defence talks at Parliament House in Canberra as part of the Australia-UK Ministerial (AUKMIN) meeting.

According to an official statement issued by the Australian government, the agreement formalises the established practice of consulting on issues that affect the sovereignty and regional security. The agreement includes a status of forces agreement, paving the way of respective forces to operate together in each ...