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US President Joe Biden will ask the US Congress to add Australia as a “domestic source” within the meaning of Title III of the Defense Production Act, according to a statement from the White House.
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The decision was announced as part of a joint statement from US President Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese from the third in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit and in the lead-up to the 2023 G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan on 20 May.
The US Defense Production Act (DPA) authorises the president to ensure the availability of domestic industry for defence, essential civilian, and homeland security requirements.
“We welcome the progress being made to provide Australia with a conventionally armed, nuclear‑powered submarine capability, and on developing advanced capabilities under the trilateral AUKUS partnership to deter aggression and sustain peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific,” both leaders said in the joint statement.
“We are prioritising improving information sharing and technology cooperation mechanisms required to advance our defence and security collaboration, including through AUKUS.
“(Adding Australia as a domestic source) would streamline technological and industrial base collaboration, accelerate and strengthen AUKUS implementation, and build new opportunities for United States investment in the production and purchase of Australian critical minerals, critical technologies, and other strategic sectors.”
Both leaders also acknowledged the work under way to implement the Australia-United States Enhanced Force Posture Cooperation, including accelerating Japan’s involvement in force posture-related activities.
In addition, they signed a statement of intent to advance climate cooperation through the Australia-United States Climate, Critical Minerals, and Clean Energy Transformation Compact.
Australia and the United States have reached agreement in principle, subject to final domestic authorisations, on the Technology Safeguards Agreement, to allow for the controlled transfer of sensitive US launch technology and data. Both countries intend to establish a new Australia-based ground station supporting NASA’s Artemis program that will provide near-continuous communications support to lunar missions.
The United States Coast Guard has unveiled plans to deploy a US Coast Guard Cutter to the Pacific in early 2024, to provide an enduring humanitarian presence in the region, complementary to Australia’s Pacific Support Vessel. This includes through the delivery of training coordinated with Australia’s Pacific Maritime Security Program.
Both countries reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and called for the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues through dialogue without the threat or use of force or coercion.
“Your support for Congress in showing that Australia is a domestic source under the Defense Production Act. That’s really important,” Prime Minister Albanese said.
“I went to the UK recently for the coronation and went up to Barrow to look at the nuclear-powered subs that are being built there.
“And AUKUS is progressing between our three countries as well. And it’s important that we progress pillar two as part of that implementation.”
