Readout of AUKUS Joint Steering Group Meetings
Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America recently held meetings of the AUKUS Joint Steering Groups, which were established as part of the governance structure of the AUKUS partnership in September 2021.
Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America recently held meetings of the AUKUS Joint Steering Groups, which were established as part of the governance structure of the AUKUS partnership in September 2021.Ā The delegations discussed the intensive work under way and the progress that has been madeĀ since the announcement of AUKUS. Both meetings were held at the Pentagon, with additional sessions at the White House where the delegations met with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
TheĀ Joint Steering Group for Australiaās Nuclear-Powered Submarine Program metĀ onĀ 25-28 July 2022, continuing its progress on defining the optimal pathway to provide Australia with conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines at the earliest possible date while ensuring theĀ highest standards of nuclear stewardship, including the responsible planning, operation, application and management of nuclear material, technology and facilities.
The participants took stock of ongoingĀ progressĀ to deliver on our leadersā commitment to set the highest possible non-proliferation standards, including through continued close consultation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). for the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.Ā TheĀ paperĀ detailsĀ our proposal to provideĀ complete power units to Australia, Australiaās commitment that it willĀ not conduct enrichment, reprocessing or fuel fabricationĀ in connection with its nuclear-powered submarine program, and our engagement with the IAEA to find a suitable verification approach. āsatisfaction with the engagement and transparency shown by the three countries thus farā and noted that he plans to present a report on AUKUS to the September Board.
The Joint Steering Group for Advanced Capabilities met onĀ 28-29 July, reviewingĀ progress across critical defence capabilities. The participants decided to bolster combined military capabilities, including by accelerating near-term capabilities in hypersonics and counter-hypersonics, as well as cyber. They alsoĀ recommitted to deepeningĀ cooperation on information-sharing and other previously agreed working groups. As work progresses on these and other critical defence capabilities, we will seek opportunities to engage allies and close partners.