The United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom Announce “AUKUS” Alliance Focused on Indo-Pacific Security

ABSTRACT

Most notably, securing nuclear-powered submarines prompted Australia to cancel an agreement with France for diesel-powered submarines,3 and France reacted furiously, recalling its ambassadors from both the United States and Australia.4 Although the announcement of the alliance made no direct mention of China, the inference that it addresses Chinese power in the region is unavoidable, and China warned that the alliance, and particularly the submarine agreement, could accelerate an arms race.5 The AUKUS announcement builds on nearly a decade of efforts to increase U.S. focus on Asia and the Pacific. 9 To that end, the United States and United Kingdom announced the “New Atlantic Charter” in June to “defend the principles, values, and institutions of democracy” among other things,10 and the Biden administration has resolved several trade disputes with Europe, removing irritants in the Atlantic alliances.11 The Biden administration has also strengthened relationships in the Indo-Pacific region by working closely with the “Quad,” which includes the United States, Australia, Japan, and India, to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, as well as climate change and other shared challenges.12 In a joint statement following their first in-person meeting in September, the Quad leaders emphasized their commitment “to promoting the free, open, rules-based order, rooted in international law and undaunted by coercion, to bolster security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond,” and noted that they “stand for the rule of law, freedom of navigation and overflight, peaceful resolution of disputes, democratic values, and territorial integrity of states.” 25 The treaty obligates all parties, including nuclear-weapons states, “not to provide (a) source or special fissionable material, or (b) equipment or material especially designed or prepared for the processing, use or production of special fissionable material, to any non-nuclear-weapon State for peaceful purposes, unless the source or special fissionable material shall be subject to” IAEA safeguards.26 Both the United States and the United Kingdom use weapons-grade highly enriched uranium to power their nuclear submarines,27 and the AUKUS countries have already begun to work with the IAEA to ensure that the submarine deal meets their NPT obligations.28 IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi noted that the countries had informed the IAEA of their plans and pledged that “[t]he IAEA will engage with them on this matter in line with its statutory mandate, and in accordance with their respective safeguards agreements with the Agency.” In particular, the Act allows sharing with non-nuclear-weapon states subject to IAEA safeguards,30 and it allows the president to authorize the transfer to other countries of nuclear material for military applications when he determines that such cooperation “will promote . . . the common defense and security.”