The UK Government has announced that Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander will travel to Australia, New Zealand and Singapore on a week-long trade and defence mission aimed at strengthening security cooperation and expanding economic ties across the Indo-Pacific.
The visit is expected to focus on opportunities for closer defence-industrial collaboration, including in naval shipbuilding and advanced defence manufacturing, while also promoting Scottish exports and inward investment. According to the Scotland Office, trade and international security will be central themes throughout the trip, with Alexander due to meet government ministers and business leaders across all three countries.
The programme will also include attendance at two overseas performances of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, in Brisbane and Auckland, which the Government described as a showcase of one of Scotland’s major cultural exports.
The Government said the visit comes at a time of “heightened global instability” and will place emphasis on strengthening defence partnerships with close allies.
Australia is a key element of the AUKUS partnership, and the UK signed a treaty in 2025 committing to 50 years of security cooperation in the region. Officials said Alexander’s meetings will explore further collaboration, particularly in areas where Scotland’s industrial base is considered competitive.
The Scotland Office said discussions are expected to include naval shipbuilding and defence manufacturing, describing Scottish industry as having “world-leading expertise” in those sectors. The mission will also focus on trade expansion, with Alexander expected to promote Scottish businesses and encourage new investment into Scotland.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Alexander said the trip was designed to support exporters and reinforce Scotland’s position within UK-wide trade relationships. “This visit is about speaking up for Scottish businesses and Scottish exporters,” he said.
He added that Scotland benefits from UK-wide influence and trade reach, stating: “Scotland benefits from the strength, reach and connections that come from being part of the UK.”
Alexander also linked the trip to wider defence cooperation, saying: “At a time of significant global uncertainty, it has never been more important to stand shoulder to shoulder with our closest allies, and I look forward to discussing how we can deepen our defence cooperation and work together to keep people safe.” On trade, he said: “I will also be banging the drum for Scottish business… This visit is an opportunity to open doors for Scottish exporters, attract the investment that creates economic growth and well paid jobs back at home, and show that Scotland is open for business on the global stage.”
Good stuff.but the RN needs more escorts faster than in the pipeline atm. PM showboats & talks the talk at Munich, but we remain at the prestent nadir of escort fleet numbers for several years, just replacing thoroughly worn out T23s with new T26 & T31s. Could even drop lower if any more of the remaining T23s break before replaced, or if any replacements get sold to new customers.
Agree the best soliution for uk i reckon would be to order at leaat 3 frigates from abroad, as i assume uk shipyards are now at maximum capacity . Japan skorea or other nation. Why does uk not order a few corvettes for coastal water duty as well from abroad. There is plenty to do around the north Sea and Atlantic , some Corvettes would be very useful and quicker to build .
That would require a change in the law, and that’s not happening.
Oh that throws that plan out the window , did not realise that 🙂
But the UK does have a shipyard which has built corvett size vessels in the past for the Irish navy.
Giving more of our slots away ???
Iver Huitfelds need replacing too don’t forget, wonder what they will go for?… I think the uk government can speed up the pace if they want with Babcock and BAEsys but that would involve spending money.
Babcock are considering another shed but that requires more orders of course.
Asualtralia has already committed to the Japanese Mogami as their second frigate class, Singapore is building their Victory class MRCV’s, which only really leaves the New Zealand replacement for their Anzacs as potential export orders surely? And even that is likely to be going up against the Mogami.
Hopefully the visit will re promote the AH140/T31 to NZ. Maybe more to Indonesia, why not try for the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam or a license build for India? Would India be interested in the T26 or even NZ? And Chile and Brazil?
Add Bangladesh for the AH140? Piggyback on the ex HMS Enterprise sale.
Indonesia already ordered two more
Yes, but I think there might be even more planned. And if NZ goes for the AH140 there’s potential for a shared build.
Quentin
Vietnam is a communist state. They did however have a short punch up with the CCP. T26 is a very expensive design. It is realistically too expensive for everyone on your list. If you can’t afford at least three, you are better off looking elsewhere.
NZ is a bit of a wild card. A number of NZ companies also have branches in Australia due to the Anzac build & ongoing support. Some, I gather were involved in the Hobart build & were pre qualified for the Hunter build. NZ government though tends to wear rose coloured glasses where the prescription for shortsightedness has been overlooked.
For some of these, even A140 is too much ship. Bangladesh & Philippines are perhaps better suited to A120 rather than A140. I believe you are better off with a lower capability you can do well than a higher capability you can’t handle.
Given yesterday’s England performance at Murrayfield I think a Douglas Alexander is a great choice for this role.
Britain needs more build capacity, no point in selling anything unless we can deliver. Time to develop a new yard in the south.
There are simply not enough orders to justify any more ship yards. If the government actually decides to spend money instead of cutting the RN, then there might actually be justification in what you ask for.
Invest in Cammel Laird to build whole ships instead of just blocks?
Nice trip if you can get it.
Honestly I think all the comments above are just completely missing the point, this is not about exporting warships per se it’s all the design, project management and equipment in our supply chain we have and believe it or not that brings in a lot of £££ to the whole of the U.K. not just Scotland.
Recently the SNP have been overstepping their roles and responsibilities, and doing things like opening pseudo embassies in foreign capitol city’s (including Moscow, Brussels, Washington and err London). All this is the U.K. Government giving them a gentle reminder that things like Defence, Industry, Export agreements and Industry are a reserved responsibility, hence sending Douglas Alexander (who is one of the more competent Labour Politicians).
He is going to Australia, Singapore and New Zealand and non of those are in the market for U.K. warships, but they are for equipment and components. Australia has everything on order it wants, Singapore does its own unique thing (and very advanced they are) and NZ will probably opt to buy a couple of Japanese or Australian FFMs to ensure commonality with their Neighbours.
But just for an example of the real value of visits like this, just consider what have the Australian Hunter Class (6), Japanese Mogami(12)and FFM(23), South Korean Chungnan(6) and Daegu(8) all got in common ?
All 55 warships are powered by RR MT30 GT’s which with spares, support etc is worth about £3 Billion and parts are built all over the UK. BAe, Ultra, Babcock all make a lot of money exporting Defence equipment.
Correct Rodders; it’s the designs that being sold and – hopefully– some of the kit to go with them. Why! It seems like only yesterday the Scots Nat crime family told the world that Scotland doesn’t build warships and can’t build warships, but even if they could, it’s all a big lie.
they dont have a Moscow “International Office”. But they do have Beijing, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, London, Ottawa, Paris, and Washington D.C..
The SNP are a$$holes like trump, a pox on their house.