US President Joe Biden has called on Congress to approve the transfer of data on naval nuclear power plants to Australia.

He also presented to Congressmen an agreement under the new security alliance, AUKUS, which would provide for the exchange of such information.

“I have approved the agreement, authorized its implementation, and I urge Congress to consider it in a positive way,” Biden said in a White House statement.

According to the American leader, the first agreement within the framework of the new security partnership of the three Anglo-Saxon states meets all the requirements of the law.

"The agreement will allow the three parties to communicate and exchange information about nuclear power plants for the Navy, as well as certain limited data that may be required during tripartite discussions, which will allow consultations in a comprehensive and effective manner," Biden said.

The American leader also recalled that, in accordance with the AUKUS Security Partnership, the governments of the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom will hold consultations for 18 months to "find the best way to provide the Royal Australian Navy with nuclear submarines as soon as possible." ...

“In my opinion, the involvement of Great Britain and Australia in the efforts of the United States, in accordance with international agreements, makes a significant and material contribution to ensuring mutual defense and security,” the head of the White House said.

Last week, Washington, Canberra and London signed the first AUKUS nuclear submarine information exchange agreement.

Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton announced this on his Twitter account.

“This agreement gives Australia access to highly classified nuclear submarine technology,” he wrote.

Dutton also told reporters that the signed document, for the first time in history, will allow Australia to participate in the exchange of information regarding systems equipped with a nuclear power plant.

According to the Australian minister, this is a "notable achievement and next step" in the implementation of the submarine deal and other agreements under the AUKUS.

  • Washington, Canberra and London Announce AUKUS Defense Partnership

  • AP

  • © Andrew Harnik

Earlier, on November 19, Biden approved a document on the exchange of such data.

According to him, adherence to these agreements will not carry unreasonable risks to the collective defense and security of the three countries.

The head of the White House also noted that the new agreement will allow states to cooperate, supporting the interests of the three Anglo-Saxon countries, including within the framework of the North Atlantic Treaty.

Beijing condemned such actions of the American side within the framework of AUKUS.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said during the briefing that China is extremely concerned about this.

According to him, cooperation in this direction will lead to an exacerbation of tension in the region, an arms race, a threat to regional peace and stability, as well as undermine the efforts of the international community in the field of nuclear nonproliferation.

Union of Anglo-Saxon Countries

Recall, on September 15, the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom announced the formation of the AUKUS defense alliance, within which Washington pledged to provide Canberra with technology for building its own nuclear submarines.

In addition to Beijing, the news about the agreement was received negatively in Russia.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with CNBC, the formation of such an alliance harms regional stability.

“It undermines the stability that we all talk about and we all care about,” he said.

Putin also stressed that "being friends with each other is good, but" being friends against someone "is bad."

Later, Moscow and Beijing demanded clarification regarding the plans for the implementation of the partnership within the AUKUS framework.

As Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, noted at a November 26 session of the IAEA Board of Governors, Moscow is concerned that more than two months after the announcement of the creation of AUKUS, "an information vacuum and a complete lack of transparency remain around the initiative."

“The text of the trilateral agreement on the exchange of information regarding the nuclear submarine project, which has recently appeared in the public domain, does not add clarity either.

We understand that such agreements are normal practice.

However, it clearly follows from the content of the document that a higher level of secrecy will be applied to the project, ”he said.

Ulyanov stressed that the Russian side is still waiting for a "clear answer" as to what kind of fuel will be used in the nuclear power plants of the submarines.

A similar point of view was expressed during a press conference by the Permanent Representative of China, Wang Qun.

According to him, if nuclear materials are transferred to Australia within the framework of AUKUS, it would violate the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

"In the ring of American allies"

According to political scientist Alexander Asafov, Joe Biden is in a hurry to transfer to Canberra data on naval nuclear power plants, in particular instructions for maintenance, support and work mechanisms, as well as other similar information.

“The problem is that the US is doing this deliberately to increase the number of members of the so-called nuclear club.

That is, Australia will now own military nuclear technologies and, using the provided data, including closed ones, it can develop itself in this direction, conduct various experiments and go towards creating its own power plants, "the analyst said in an interview with RT.

As the expert of the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Research Vladimir Bruter noted, the fears of Russia and China regarding the opacity of the actions of the three Anglo-Saxon countries within the framework of AUKUS are more than justified.

  • Collins-class Australian Navy submarine

  • Reuters

  • © David Gray

“Australia's nuclear submarines would mean it is a nuclear power.

However, the United States wants to disguise this with statements that Canberra does not produce nuclear weapons on its territory and does not have a complete set of technologies for this.

In this case, Washington is doing chicanery to justify its actions, ”the analyst said.

According to Bruter, the head of the White House focused on the topic related to the transfer of information to Australia about naval nuclear power plants in order to quickly arm Australia "as a counterbalance to China."

“For this, AUKUS was created - to oppose the PRC.

Australia is the largest American ally in which the United States and Britain are confident, besides, this state is relatively close to China, ”the expert noted.

According to Asafov, Washington's actions violate global stability.

“And this should be discussed within the nuclear club.

But here the Americans are following their own logic to suppress China and increase the pressure.

They do this without looking at safety or anyone's opinion, ”the analyst stated.

According to Bruter, the high activity of the American side in the framework of the AUKUS defense partnership means that military-technical cooperation between these countries, in particular regarding the creation of submarines for Australia, will develop extremely rapidly.

“The same applies to the exchange of information in this area, including intelligence.

But without the permission of Congress, these processes are impossible, which is why Biden appeals to the legislature, "the analyst explained in a commentary on RT.

Bruter recalled that while China is reacting to new steps within the framework of AUKUS at the level of rhetoric, however, as the partnership strengthens, the situation may change.

“China will have to respond to this with concrete steps.

Beijing will do it slowly but surely.

In particular, the PRC will continue its rearmament program, ”the expert noted.

Asafov stressed that Beijing is well aware of the threat from AUKUS and is preparing to repel possible provocations from this alliance.

“China understands very well that, despite Biden's multidirectional rhetoric towards China, the republic remains in the ring of American allies, which is constantly shrinking.

It is ridiculous to talk about international security in such conditions.

Therefore, Beijing is forced to build up its armed forces, navy, and develop hypersonic missile technologies, ”the analyst concluded.