AUSTRALIA SUPPORTS U.S. POSITIONS ON NPT, FINAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 001094 SENSITIVE NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2019 TAGS: PREL KNNP PARM ENRG IAEA NPT MNUC KTBT AS SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA SUPPORTS U.S. POSITIONS ON NPT, FINAL POLICY DUE IN FEBRUARY REF: SECSTATE 126209 Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Edgard D. Kagan for reasons 1.4(b)(d) ¶1. SUMMARY: (C/NF) Australia supports the U.S. views on the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) ahead of next year's review conference, but has not finalized its own policy. Australia will review its nuclear stance early next year, although a major policy shift is not expected. Officials stressed the importance of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) and offered to pressure third countries on their nuclear policies if asked. Australia is committed to strengthening the NPT and will support the U.S. position during the NPT review conference. END SUMMARY. High Hopes for NPT review -------------- ¶2. (C/NF) Australia has high hopes for the upcoming NPT review conference. Jane Hardy, Director of the Arms Control Section for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT),believes it is important for all countries to focus on areas of broad agreement, rather than the few areas where there are serious differences. Australia hopes that the conference will lead to a strengthening of the NPT, specifically the measures on non-compliance and withdrawal from the treaty. Hardy said the U.S. could count on Australia to "Say all the right things" prior to and during the conference. She also offered that Australia could approach any third counties on nuclear issues if the United States thought it would be helpful. New Policy Due Out in February -------------- ¶3. (C/NF) Australia will soon begin a review of its stance on nuclear issues and will announce its new policy early next year. Wendy Walsh of the Arms Control Section at DFAT does not believe that any major policy changes are likely. The current government is ideologically opposed to nuclear energy within Australia, and one of the major areas of debate will be how aggressively the government should support international civilian nuclear proposals, such as a nuclear fuel bank. While the specifics of the new policy will be decided during the review, both Hardy and Walsh were confident that it would be closely aligned with that of the United States. START Will Set the Tone -------------- ¶4. (C/NF) Australian officials stressed the importance of the START treaty and hoped that the U.S. and Russia would agree to significant arms reductions. Hardy said that Australia will continue to point to the United States and Russia as leading the international arms reduction effort. A productive agreement on START would set the proper tone for the coming discussion on the NPT and help deflect criticism of the two nuclear powers during upcoming debates. The Australian government will praise whatever START agreement is reached, but will also call for further arms reductions. Comment -------------- ¶5. (C/NF) COMMENT: The United States and Australia agree on the most important elements of the NPT. The Australian government recognizes the importance of the NPT and is committed to limiting the proliferation of nuclear weapons, strengthening the NPT, and improving measures to hold countries not in compliance to account. The United States can rely on Australia's support during the NPT review conference. END COMMENT CLUNE