US Says Australia, UK Don’t Yet Meet Pacific Accord Requirements

  • Arms export controls are assessed by State Department
  • Official predicts requirements will be met in next review

Anthony Albanese, Joe Biden, and Rishi Sunak in March 2023.

Photographer: Eric Thayer/Bloomberg
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Australia and the UK don’t yet meet arms export standards required for the Aukus partnership, the US said, in a sign that the landmark cooperation agreement may be in for delays.

The Aukus initiative, announced in 2021 to great fanfare, is intended to deepen security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines and share innovative technologies as part of a joint effort to counter China.