UK and Australia sign new defense agreement

The UK and Australia signed a new defense agreement in Canberra on Thursday, paving the way for the two longtime allies to host troops and share military intelligence.

The deal includes a "status of forces agreement", according to ministers from both countries, making it easier for each country's soldiers to deploy and operate in the other. The treaty was signed by Australian Defense Minister Richard and his U.K. counterpart Grant following annual bilateral ministerial defense talks at Parliament House in Canberra, as part of the Australia-UK Ministerial meeting, which was first held in 2006.