Grossi slams no engagement with AUKUS on submarine deal as 'big risk'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
14 Mar 2023 23:20
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According to the IAEA chief, the non-proliferation regime may be at risk.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi speaks at a news conference about developments related to the IAEA's monitoring and verification work in Iran, in Vienna, Austria June 9, 2022. (Reuters)

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said any failure by his agency to work with AUKUS on the submarine deal would be a "big risk" to the non-proliferation regime.

"We have to be able to provide the technologically sound answers to that. If we don't do it, there is a risk, there is a big risk to the non-proliferation regime," Grossi said at a CSIS event.

The nuclear-powered submarines currently being developed for Australia as part of the trilateral AUKUS alliance with the United States and the United Kingdom is not to carry any kind of weapons, said President Biden.

Australia remains committed to staying a non-nuclear weapons state and refuses to produce nuclear fuel for the submarines, the US President added.

The United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia formed Thursday a military alliance to boost nuclear capabilities and "strengthen stability in the Indo-Pacific region" as the West grows warier of China, although they did not mention that in their announcement.

Earlier, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke about the significance of the Australian decision to acquire nuclear capabilities, as well as the significance of allies or rather "any other state" to come to its aid in this regard.