Coyle, currently chief of joint capabilities, will replace Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, the government said. Her appointment comes as the Australian Defence Force seeks to increase female representation and address allegations of systemic sexual harassment and discrimination.

Defence Minister Richard Marles described the move as a “deeply historic moment,” adding that Coyle’s leadership would be significant for women serving in the military and those considering enlistment.Coyle, 55, joined the army in 1987 and has held several senior command roles.

Marles said she would also become the first woman to lead any service branch within the ADF.Women currently account for about 21% of ADF personnel and 18.5% of senior leadership positions. The military has set a target of raising female participation to 25% by 2030.

The leadership changes come after a class action lawsuit filed in October alleged the ADF failed to protect thousands of female personnel from sexual assault, harassment and discrimination.

In parallel appointments, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond will become chief of the ADF, replacing Admiral David Johnston, while Rear Admiral Matthew Buckley will take over as head of the navy.

Speaking in London, Albanese said the meeting was a chance to discuss the “strongly building” support for AUKUS between the two allies but would not be drawn on the position of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The AUKUS pact, sealed in 2021, aims to provide Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines from the next decade to counter China’s ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region.

Trump’s administration is undertaking a formal AUKUS review led by Elbridge Colby, a top Pentagon policy official and public critic of the agreement.

Asked if his meeting with Starmer gave him increased confidence that AUKUS would proceed, Albanese said: “I have always been confident about AUKUS going ahead.

“Every meeting I’ve had and discussions I’ve had with people in the U.S. administration have always been positive about AUKUS,” he said, according to an official transcript.

Under AUKUS – worth hundreds of billions of dollars – Washington will sell several Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines to Canberra, while Britain and Australia will later build a new AUKUS-class submarine.

Australia and Britain signed a treaty in July to bolster cooperation over the next 50 years on AUKUS.

During his visit, Albanese is also expected to meet with King Charles, Australia’s official head of state.