Delegation from Victoria, Australia meets with area leaders at Regional Innovation Center

Delegation from Victoria, Australia meets with area business, education leaders at the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut/Regional Innovation Center 

Group tour region under AUKUS maritime security partnership

(NEW LONDON, CT, July 18, 2024) – A delegation from the Australian state of Victoria toured the region on Wednesday as part of their visit through the tri-nation security partnership between the U.S., United Kingdom, and Australia known as AUKUS.

AUKUS is intended to build business and education partnerships that will eventually result in Australia building its own nuclear submarines to help defend the Asia-Pacific region.

Specifically, the agreement calls for a rotation of U.S. submarines to be deployed from Australia beginning in 2027, the sale of Virginia-class submarines to Australia starting in the 2030s, and Australia building and delivering its first nuclear-powered AUKUS submarine to the Royal Australian Navy in the 2040s. Over the past several years Congressman Courtney has been instrumental in building this important relationship for eastern Connecticut and Victoria, Australia.

Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut President and CEO Tony Sheridan arranged a meeting at the Chamber’s Innovation Center in downtown New London between the delegation and leaders of Electric Boat, Pfizer, Mitchell College, Three Rivers Community College, and Connecticut College, state leaders, and a representative from the Department of Economic and Community Development, among others. The group also visited Ella T. Grasso Technical High School in Groton. 

As part of the early stages of AUKUS, three Royal Australian Navy officers graduated in April from the U.S. Naval Submarine School’s Submarine Officer Basic Course, and in June nine enlisted sailors and three more officers from the Royal Australian Navy arrived in Groton to begin their training alongside American sailors at the Submarine School.