UK and Australia sign new defense deal - Breaking News. The text includes a "status of forces agreement" and "facilitates" joint operations in the two countries.
The agreement does not constitute a true mutual defense pact, which would require one party to intervene if the other was attacked or threatened. Both sides said they were "committed to engaging" each other in the event of a threat. The UK and Australia signed a new defense agreement in Canberra today, paving the way for hosting each other's troops and sharing military intelligence.