US nuclear material to be transferred to Australia under pact
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The news: AUKUS partners have struck a new agreement to allow the transfer of naval nuclear material from the US and the UK to Australia.
The context: The agreement was revealed in a letter to the Congress by US President Joe Biden, which stipulated that it "enables the sale of special nuclear material contained in complete, welded power units, and other material as needed for such naval nuclear propulsion plants".
Biden urged Congress to give the agreement "favourable consideration".
Under the "optimal pathway" for announced in San Diego last year, Australia will purchase second-hand Virginia-class submarines from the US next decade before building its own version of a new SSN-AUKUS fleet at the Osbourne shipyard in Adelaide.
What they said: "I have determined that Australia and the United Kingdom, by participating with the United States pursuant to international arrangements, are making substantial and material contributions to our mutual defense and security," Biden's letter said.
"Australia is party to the Australia, New Zealand, and United States Security Treaty (ANZUS), and the United Kingdom is party to the North Atlantic Treaty and participates in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
"Australia and the United Kingdom continue to be committed to the mutual defense and security provided through ANZUS and NATO, respectively."
The source: The White House
