IAEA Board of Governors
Agenda item 11: Any other business (AUKUS Partners’ Update)
11 June 2026
Statement delivered by Mr Mathew Fox, Alternate Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Chair,
I have the honour of speaking on behalf of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States to provide an update to the Board of Governors on Australia’s program to transition from its current fleet of six diesel fuelled submarines to eight conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
Consultations between Australia and the IAEA on the safeguards and verification approach for Australia’s naval nuclear propulsion program, including an arrangement under Article 14 of Australia’s Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, remain ongoing. These consultations include discussions on the structure of the Material Balance Area, the facility and the site approach for the new facilities related to Australia’s planned naval nuclear propulsion program. Further discussions with the Agency on this topic took place in Australia in March 2026.
We thank the Director General for his continued reporting to this Board on the Agency’s engagement on naval nuclear propulsion programs, including in the Safeguards Implementation Report for 2025. As indicated by the Director General’s reporting to this Board, Australia has continued to fulfil all reporting requirements under its CSA, Additional Protocol and Subsidiary Arrangements. The IAEA has continued to conduct verification activities in relation to Australia’s NNP program, within the framework of Australia’s safeguards agreements. These activities have included complementary access and the collection of environmental samples at relevant locations.
AUKUS partners reiterate our commitment to ensuring that the safeguards and verification approach for Australia’s program sets the highest non-proliferation standard. A robust package of safeguards and verification measures will apply to Australia’s NNP program, which will enable the IAEA to continue to fulfil its technical objectives for Australia at all stages of the submarines’ lifecycle. The IAEA will be able to confirm that there has been no diversion of declared nuclear material; no misuse of declared nuclear facilities; and no undeclared nuclear material or activities in Australia.
Once the Article 14 Arrangement is finalised, the Director General will transmit it to the Board of Governors for appropriate action. AUKUS partners fully support this approach.
Chair,
We remain committed to keeping the Board informed of relevant developments in our trilateral cooperation on naval nuclear propulsion.
AUKUS partners continue to work together to build the capabilities, skills and knowledge that will underpin Australia’s ability to safely and securely operate and maintain its future conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
For this purpose, in line with the Optimal Pathway announced in March 2023, Australian military and civilian personnel are embedding with the UK Royal Navy, the US Navy, and with UK and US industry.
Australian personnel have also participated in a number of maintenance activities on US and UK submarines occurring at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia, most recently the UK Submarine Maintenance Period in March 2026 – as we informed the Board at its last meeting. A significant number of maintenance and demonstration activities were delivered trilaterally, reflecting considerable progress ahead of the establishment of Submarine Rotational Force‑West [SRF-W] next year. As we have previously advised the Board, US and UK submarines will establish a rotational presence at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia from 2027. This initiative, which we call SRF-West, is supporting the development of Australia’s ability to operate, sustain, and safely steward our future conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
All activities will continue to be carried out in a manner fully consistent with AUKUS partners’ respective non-proliferation and safeguards obligations, including under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Rarotonga) and its Protocols, and Australia’s safeguards agreements with the IAEA. In line with our ongoing commitment, Australia has continued to engage with the IAEA to ensure transparency ahead of maintenance activity.
Australia has announced additional funding towards the design and delivery of the future Submarine Construction Yard at Osborne, South Australia; and the defence precinct at Henderson, Western Australia, which will provide contingency docking and depot-level maintenance capabilities for Australia’s future conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
Australia continues to be committed to ensuring that its naval nuclear propulsion program upholds the highest standards of nuclear safety. The Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator, established last year, administers a strong regulatory framework, drawing on more than 70 years of safe nuclear propulsion practices in the US and UK, tailored to Australia’s operating environment.
Chair,
We support the Director General’s continued commitment to report to this Board on naval nuclear propulsion programs and to place them on the Board’s agenda, as he judges appropriate. We regret that China insists on adding an unnecessary item to the agenda, wasting the Board’s valuable time.
AUKUS partners remain fully committed to transparency and welcome opportunities to address genuine questions regarding Australia’s program. On 8 May, Australia delivered a side event at the NPT Review Conference in New York, alongside trilateral partners. Trilateral partners also published a working paper on Australia’s Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program which can be found online. Following on from previous side events at each NPT Preparatory Committee meeting since 2023, we were pleased that the event provided a further opportunity to update the international community about AUKUS partners’ non-proliferation approach and progress to date. We will continue to share updates at future Board meetings and in other fora, as appropriate.
Thank you, Chair.