Australia’s parliament is considering a bill that would enable the Defence Trade Cooperation Treaty between Australia and the United States.
Military cooperation between Australia and the United States is fundamental to Australian National Security, as was highlighted in the announcement more U.S. troops will based there, Minister of Defence Mareriel Jason Clare recently said, putting the bill before the Parliament. The measure also strengthens Australia’s export controls to align them with international best practice.
“About half of Australia’s war-fighting assets are sourced from the United States, and we will spend approximately $147.5 billion replacing or upgrading up to 85 percent of our military equipment over the next 10 to 15 years,” Clare said.
Additionally, the Treaty removes the requirement that companies seek individual licenses for each export from the United States, allowing for the license-free movement of eligible defense articles within an Approved Community. For companies that join the Approved Community, this will save time and money.
Addressing treaty concerns, Clare said facts show that this year the government approved 30 defense-capability projects worth more than $4.9 billion, with more approvals to come by the end of the year.
Clare said the legislation would “strengthen our Alliance with the United States and the relationship between our defence industries; improve interoperability of the Australian and United States armed forces; help to deliver equipment to our troops faster and cheaper; provide opportunities for the Australian defense industry to win work in the U.S. defense market; and enhance Australia’s defense export controls to bring them in line with international best practice.”