Thread by @atomic_yozhik

Since #AUKUS and the safeguards and submarines discussion does keep coming up (see the Board's decision to include naval nuclear propulsion as a full agenda item), I thought I would put together a short resource list on the topic.

https://twitter.com/ChinaMissionVie/status/1463806850495913987

China made clear that it wants a committee established on the topic, which I can only liken to a Committee 26 which would negotiate on model para 14 arrangements. Interesting idea worth some consideration, but sure to face opposition from AUKUS countries.

https://twitter.com/atomic_yozhik/status/1463126275955040262?s=20

As far as resources, I'd be remiss if I didn't flag the webinar that we hosted with @laura_rockwood @OpenNuclear and VCDNP Non-Resident Senior Fellow on the subject (recording and summary included).
vcdnp.org/nuclear-naval-…

One thing that came up during the webinar was whether or not the Board would need to approve para 14 arrangements: a question that many seem to have an opinion on, but as far as I'm aware has not been decided. Could go either way but whatever is decided will be precedent-setting.

Ahead of the webinar, John wrote two pieces that put the "subs and safeguards" discussion into more context, especially vis-a-vis what the actual risk is (and isn't) and to what extent a para 14 arrangement would (or wouldn't) be a "loophole."
vcdnp.org/iaea-safeguard…

A few years ago @laura_rockwood wrote this fabulous piece for @FAScientists on the legal aspects of nuclear naval propulsion, which is a must-read for diplomats engaging in this debate in the Board today.
👉 uploads.fas.org/media/Naval-Nu… 👈

Dr. Tom Shea also contributed to a piece to @FAScientists on the subject, which included a proposal for the Tenth NPT Review Conference on a "quid-pro-quo" between nuclear-armed States and non-nuclear weapon-States on naval reactors.
fas.org/pub-reports/th…

The @FAScientists project was bigger than these two papers - the other papers in the series would no doubt be informative for anyone interested in the naval nuclear propulsion debate.
fas.org/naval-nuclear-…

Tariq Rauf, who has written extensively about the naval nuclear propulsion debate, just published this piece with @InDepthNews, in which he argues on some of the modalities of how we should (or shouldn't) proceed in the context of #AUKUS and safeguards.
indepthnews.net/index.php/arma…

These are just a few of many resources. That there are no easy answers to these questions, as we are on untrodden ground. That said, Australia won't be the last country that will seek to invoke para 14 for naval nuclear propulsion, whether or not the AUKUS sub deal moves forward.