Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander will, from Sunday 15 February 2026, undertake a week‑long visit to Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. The Scotland Office says the programme combines trade promotion with security engagement, including attendance at Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo performances in Brisbane and Auckland to support cultural diplomacy alongside commercial meetings. (gov.uk)
On defence, meetings in Australia and New Zealand will build on the UK–Australia AUKUS treaty signed on 24 July 2025, a 50‑year framework intended to underpin the SSN‑AUKUS submarine programme, support more than 21,000 UK jobs, create around 7,000 new roles and unlock up to £20 billion in export potential. The Scotland Office indicates discussions will target collaboration in naval shipbuilding and advanced defence manufacturing where Scottish firms are active. (gov.uk)
Those capabilities include complex warship construction on the Clyde and in Fife, with BAE Systems’ new assembly hall at Govan and upgrades at Scotstoun supporting the Type 26 programme, and Babcock’s Rosyth site assembling the Type 31 Inspiration‑class frigates in its Venturer Building. Leonardo’s Edinburgh campus continues to export radar and countermeasures technologies. These industrial strengths position Scotland to contribute to Indo‑Pacific supply chains where workshare permits. (royalnavy.mod.uk)
On trade, the visit comes with fully‑ratified bilateral agreements already in force. The Australia‑UK Free Trade Agreement and the New Zealand‑UK Free Trade Agreement entered into force on 31 May 2023, eliminating or phasing out most tariffs and enhancing services access. For food and drink producers, Australia’s tariffs on whisky and most processed foods are now zero under the FTA. (dfat.gov.au)
In Singapore, the UK–Singapore Free Trade Agreement has been complemented by the UK–Singapore Digital Economy Agreement since June 2022, providing legal certainty on cross‑border data flows and cooperation on AI, fintech and digital identity. These frameworks underpin opportunities for Scottish financial services, cyber and clean‑tech firms using Singapore as a regional hub. (mti.gov.sg)
UK membership of CPTPP has applied since 15 December 2024 with Japan, Singapore, Chile, New Zealand, Vietnam, Peru, Malaysia and Brunei, and since 24 December 2024 with Australia; Canada remains to ratify. CPTPP permits cumulation among members so inputs sourced in one member can count towards origin in another, simplifying supply chains. Mexico approved the UK Accession Protocol on 20 January 2026; entry into force there will follow 60 days after Mexico’s notification. (gov.uk)
For Scottish exporters, this combination of bilateral FTAs and CPTPP allows most goods to move at zero tariff across the three markets on this trip and, with CPTPP, across a wider group. The Department for Business and Trade notes that more than 99% of current UK goods exports to CPTPP members are now eligible for zero tariffs-subject to meeting rules of origin-expanding headroom for price‑competitive bids. (gov.uk)
Policy Wire analysis: the value of this mission will be measured less by new announcements than by utilisation-supply‑chain agreements linking Scottish yards and electronics houses into Australian and New Zealand defence programmes; services contracts using Singapore’s digital frameworks; and firms operationalising CPTPP cumulation in tender pricing and certification. The building blocks are in place; delivery depends on take‑up by companies and contracting authorities.
Soft‑power activity is built into the schedule. The Tattoo’s Brisbane performances in mid‑February and the Auckland shows from 19–21 February are positioned by organisers as the event’s 75th‑anniversary international outings, drawing significant audiences and broadcast reach. Ministers will use the platform to support sector showcases alongside cultural diplomacy. (suncorpstadium.com.au)
What to watch next: memoranda of understanding or procurement engagements connected to AUKUS‑related supply chains; any sectoral export deals in food and drink, renewables or professional services aligned to the Australia and New Zealand FTAs; and further DBT guidance to help SMEs evidence origin and apply cumulation under CPTPP in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. (dfat.gov.au)