Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander begins a week-long visit to Australia, Singapore and New Zealand from 15 February 2026, with trade and security central to the programme, according to the Scotland Office. The itinerary includes two international performances of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Brisbane and Auckland, which ministers frame as a cultural export supporting the UK’s wider diplomatic and commercial objectives. Officials said this is the first such visit to New Zealand by a Scottish Secretary in recent years. (gov.uk)
Defence discussions in Australia and New Zealand will build on last year’s UK–Australia bilateral AUKUS treaty, signed at Geelong on 26 July 2025. The agreement sets a 50‑year framework for cooperation on the SSN‑AUKUS submarine programme, workforce development and the rotational presence of a UK Astute‑class submarine at HMAS Stirling. UK ministers said the treaty underpins both nations’ submarine programmes and could support tens of thousands of jobs and up to £20 billion in UK exports. (minister.defence.gov.au)
Scottish industrial capability is a core selling point during the visit. At Rosyth, the Type 31 frigate programme sustains around 2,500 jobs in Scotland and across the UK supply chain, with production milestones reached through 2024. On the Clyde, the Type 26 programme directly supports about 1,700 skilled roles at BAE Systems’ Govan and Scotstoun yards, with a further 2,300 posts sustained across the maritime supply chain. (gov.uk)
AUKUS cooperation explicitly spans design, build, operation, sustainment and eventual disposal activities, creating scope for Scottish firms in complex fabrication, systems integration and through‑life support. Australia’s Submarine Agency says the treaty supports the workforce, infrastructure and regulatory systems required for SSN‑AUKUS and formalises port visits and a rotational UK submarine presence in Western Australia. (asa.gov.au)
On market access, the UK’s bilateral free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand have been in force since 31 May 2023. These treaties remove or phase out tariffs on most goods, and provide modern provisions for services, mobility and government procurement that exporters can use immediately. (dfat.gov.au)
The regional overlay is the UK’s membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans‑Pacific Partnership. CPTPP entered into force for the UK on 15 December 2024 with eight members including Singapore and New Zealand, and from 24 December 2024 with Australia, meaning firms can now trade under CPTPP preferences with all three countries on this itinerary. (business.gov.uk)
The Department for Business and Trade has said that, as CPTPP takes effect, more than 99% of current UK goods exports to members will be tariff‑free-context that frames this week’s outreach to Scottish exporters. (gov.uk)
CPTPP also offers a single set of rules of origin across the bloc. Government guidance confirms UK businesses can count inputs from all CPTPP members towards origin requirements, a point relevant to Scottish manufacturers and food and drink producers building Indo‑Pacific supply chains. (gov.uk)
Singapore is expected to feature prominently on services, digital and green growth. The UK–Singapore Digital Economy Agreement entered into force on 14 June 2022, establishing advanced provisions on trusted data flows, paperless trade and fintech cooperation. A bilateral Green Economy Framework agreed in March 2023 adds structured collaboration on low‑carbon technologies, green transport and sustainable finance. (mti.gov.sg)
The Scotland Office has highlighted whisky, seafood, financial services and renewable energy technology as priority sectors for the mission. Ministerial engagement in Brisbane from 12–15 February and Auckland from 19–21 February coincides with Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo performances, which showcase Scottish culture to large audiences and provide a platform for business outreach. (gov.uk)
Delivery will depend on industrial capacity as well as market access. Press reporting indicates that Babcock has recruited additional overseas welders to meet programme timelines at Scottish yards-an illustration of near‑term skills pressures as defence orders scale up. Stakeholders will watch for concrete export wins, supplier‑to‑supplier agreements and workforce initiatives flowing from this visit. (thetimes.com)