PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
US-UK-Australia military pact (17 October 2021)

That this House notes with concern the Prime Minister’s announcement on 14 September 2021 of the AUKUS military pact; further notes that this is likely to escalate tension in the Far East and that military manoeuvres and sanctions in the Indo-Pacific region have already led to concerns about the threat of a new cold war with China; notes that this pact will enable Australia to develop, in collaboration with the UK and the US, a new capability of nuclear-powered submarines which will include the supply of weapons grade enriched uranium; notes that this is a dangerous move which contradicts the Prime Minister’s statement that this will promote stability in the Indo-Pacific region; notes that supplying weapons grade uranium to a non-nuclear weapons state to power military submarines is in breach of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty which stipulates that exchange of nuclear technology must be for peaceful purposes; regrets that this is a breach of international law by this government; further regrets that this agreement is likely to increase rather than diminish the threat of war and nuclear proliferation in the region; and urges the Prime Minister to reconsider this agreement, to take appropriate steps to bring UK actions in line with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and to promote stability in the Indo-Pacific region through diplomatic rather than military means.

Sponsored by:
Richard Burgon (Labour)