Australia and UK Sign Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership Agreement with US

Australia, the UK, and the US have committed to regular, open, and transparent engagement with the IAEA Secretariat on Australia's naval nuclear propulsion program. The IAEA will continue to verify that there has been no diversion of nuclear material, no misuse of facilities, and no undeclared nuclear material or activities in Australia at all stages of the NNP program. The Director General has made clear that Australia's Article 14 arrangement, once finalised, will be referred to the Board for appropriate action, and the arrangement will be assessed on the basis of the Director General's technical advice.

Key Takeaways:

Australia and the UK have signed the bilateral Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration Agreement, also known as the 'Geelong Treaty', to provide a framework for bilateral cooperation on the design, build, operation, sustainment, and disposal of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
The IAEA will continue to verify that there has been no diversion of nuclear material, no misuse of facilities, and no undeclared nuclear material or activities in Australia at all stages of the NNP program.
The Director General has made clear that Australia's Article 14 arrangement, once finalised, will be referred to the Board for appropriate action, and the arrangement will be assessed on the basis of the Director General's technical advice.
The AUKUS partners are committed to ensuring their approach sets the highest non-proliferation standard and enables the Agency to continue fulfilling its technical objectives.
The UK and the US cannot transfer any nuclear material to Australia for use in conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines prior to Australia having an Article 14 arrangement in place with the IAEA.
Australia and the UK intend that the Geelong Treaty build on the strong foundation of trilateral cooperation between all three AUKUS nations.
AUKUS partners remain committed to transparency and fully support the Director General's ongoing commitment to report to the Board on naval nuclear propulsion programs.

Statistics:

Australia is acquiring conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines from the early 2030s.
The IAEA will continue to conduct independent verification activities in relation to Australia's program.
Under the trilateral AUKUS Naval Nuclear Propulsion Agreement (ANNPA), the UK and the US cannot transfer any nuclear material to Australia for use in conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines prior to Australia having an Article 14 arrangement in place with the IAEA.
The two countries reaffirm that all activities under the Treaty must be carried out in accordance with the Parties' respective nuclear non-proliferation obligations.
The Geelong Treaty was signed on July 26, 2025, between Australia and the UK.
The ANNPA entered into force in January this year.

Sources:

Government of United Kingdom - Update by Australia, the UK and the USA (AUKUS) to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors on Australia's naval nuclear propulsion programme