Richard Marles’ AUKUS trip thrown into disarray after UK Defence Secretary quits
Defence Minister Richard Marles was left in an awkward situation on his trip to the UK for high-level security talks.
The deputy prime minister was in Portsmouth for a bilateral AUKMIN summit and was scheduled to visit a naval base that is critical to the AUKUS partnership.
Defence Minister Richard Marles (far right) had his AUKUS visit thrown into disarray after his British counterpart John Healey (second left) sensationally quit hours earlier. Getty Images
But in a move no one expected, Marles was left to tour the facility solo after the UK’s defence secretary suddenly resigned on Thursday.
John Healey, who became defence secretary after Labour’s election victory in 2024, released a two-page resignation letter saying he’d been left with “no other option” after discovering t...