Presidential Determination on the Proposed Agreement Among the Government of the United States of America, the Government of Australia, and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for Cooperation Related to Naval Nuclear Propulsion

Presidential Determination No. 2024-09

Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy

Subject: Presidential Determination on the Proposed Agreement Among the Government of the United States of America, the Government of Australia, and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for Cooperation Related to Naval Nuclear Propulsion

I have reviewed and concur with the positions taken in your joint memorandum of June 28, 2024, recommending approval of a proposed Agreement Among the Government of the United States of America, the Government of Australia, and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for Cooperation Related to Naval Nuclear Propulsion (the "proposed Agreement"). I note your joint recommendation and concur with your assessment that Australia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, by participating with the United States pursuant to international arrangements, are making substantial and material contributions to our mutual defense and security. The proposed Agreement will permit cooperation that will further improve our mutual defense posture and support our interests under the Australia, New Zealand, and United States Security Treaty and the North Atlantic Treaty. The proposed Agreement is essential to enabling our cooperation under the enhanced trilateral security partnership among the three Parties, known as "AUKUS." I hereby:

• approve the proposed Agreement;

• determine that the performance of the proposed Agreement will promote, and will not constitute an unreasonable risk to, the common defense and security;

• approve the program outlined in the proposed Agreement and determine that such program will promote, and will not constitute an unreasonable risk to, the common defense and security; and

• authorize the execution of the proposed Agreement by the Government of the United States of America in a manner specified by the Secretary of State.

JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR.