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
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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
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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