The UK and the US are not only assisting Australia in acquiring
nuclear-powered submarines, we are working closely trilaterally
to strengthen and improve interoperability and innovation in
areas such as hypersonic and counter-hypersonic capabilities,
electronic warfare, quantum technology, artificial intelligence
and automation, cyber, and additional undersea
capabilities.
In March 2023, our three Leaders met in San Diego to inaugurate
the AUKUS partnership. Since then, we have been working
tirelessly to advance the practical aspects. As part of
this, to support and sustain our work, and to maximise the
potential of technological advances, the 2024 US National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA) allowed exemptions to the US
International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) for the UK and
Australia.
Yesterday, 18 April, the US Commerce Department also announced an
expansion of the scope of licence-free trade to AUKUS nations
under the Export Administration Regulations.
UK and Australia are on track to meet the requirements of the
NDAA and benefit from the exemptions. These will significantly
reduce licensing requirements for both the UK and Australia and
enable the closest possible collaboration between our scientists
and engineers and our defence industries as a sector.
The reforms will make it easier for our public and private sector
security institutions to deliver a more integrated defence
industrial base, secure jobs for our talented citizens and
identify new opportunities for trilateral capability
development.
As we reach the first 120-day milestone identified in the NDAA,
we are pleased to say that, as the next step in this
process, the US will, in the next few weeks, be consulting with
defence industry to ensure that implementation of the planned
AUKUS exemptions realises their full potential.
The UK will in this period also be finalising the last technical
steps to benefit from the NDAA provisions. We are confident that
by the next 120-day period we will have completed all the
requirements for full implementation of the ITAR
exemptions.
UK, Australia and the US have long been indispensable partners
and allies, across the globe. With these ground-breaking
reforms, our shared values and strategic outlook will be
underpinned by significantly enhanced capabilities and the
prospect of even greater collaboration to come.
