- The Agency was informed that on 5 August 2024 the Agreement Among the Government of Australia, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Government of the United States of America for Cooperation Related to Naval Nuclear Propulsion (the "Agreement") was signed by representatives of the three countries in Washington D.C. and it has been submitted to their legislative authorities for consideration and approval.
- The Agency was also informed that the purpose of this Agreement is to establish a legally-binding framework to facilitate the communication and exchange of naval nuclear propulsion information between and among Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States of America (US), and the transfer of naval nuclear propulsion plants, nuclear material and equipment from the UK and the US to Australia for conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, under the enhanced trilateral security partnership 'AUKUS'.
- The Agency notes that the Agreement reiterates the commitment made previously by these countries to set the highest non-proliferation standard in Australia's acquisition of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
- The Agency also notes that, in accordance with this Agreement, Australia is required to only use nuclear material transferred under the Agreement for naval nuclear propulsion, to not enrich or reprocess any nuclear material received, and to be responsible for the management, disposition, storage and disposal of any spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste resulting from naval nuclear propulsion plants that are transferred to Australia.
- The Agency wishes to recall that cooperation under the Agreement requires the application of Australia's CSA, AP and the Article 14 arrangement to be negotiated by Australia with the IAEA pursuant to the CSA and that Australia has to have in place the Article 14 arrangement and any necessary implementing mechanisms prior to the UK or the US transferring any nuclear material to Australia for naval nuclear propulsion.
- The Agreement also requires Australia to collaborate with the other parties on measures to be developed with the IAEA to support the IAEA's ability to implement Australia's CSA, AP and the Article 14 arrangement in order to meet its objectives with respect to nuclear material and equipment to be transferred under this Agreement and to continue to verify that there is no diversion of declared nuclear material, no misuse of declared nuclear facilities, and no undeclared nuclear material or activity in Australia. The Agreement also includes the commitment of the parties to ensure that Australia can provide the IAEA with information and access necessary to fulfil its obligations, while ensuring the protection of classified information related to naval nuclear propulsion.
- Australia has provided to the Agency updated declarations under the AP which reflect this development.
- As previously reported, the IAEA recalls that the bilateral consultations underway with Australia on the structure and content of the Article 14 arrangement continue to be guided by the Statute and Australia's CSA and AP. As part of these consultations, the Agency is discussing with Australia technical aspects and modalities to facilitate possible verification and monitoring activities by the Agency, as well as the implementation of voluntary transparency measures, in relations to Australia's naval nuclear propulsion programme.
- The Director General will continue to keep the Board of Governors informed of further developments, as appropriate.
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