STORY: AUKUS deal lacks transparency, undermines non-proliferation regime: Russian expert
DATELINE: Aug. 4, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:02
LOCATION: Vienna
CATEGORY: POLITICS
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of an interview with Anton Khlopkov
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ANTON KHLOPKOV, Director of the Russian think tank Center for Energy and Security Studies (CENESS)
3. various of Anton Khlopkov's speech at a seminar
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANTON KHLOPKOV, Director of the Russian think tank Center for Energy and Security Studies (CENESS)
 
STORYLINE:
 
The AUKUS nuclear submarine deal between Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (U.S.) lacks transparency, increases proliferation risks, and poses severe challenges to the non-proliferation regime and regional security and stability, a Russian expert told Xinhua on Wednesday on the sidelines of a seminar on the AUKUS held in Vienna.
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ANTON KHLOPKOV, Director of the Russian think tank Center for Energy and Security Studies (CENESS)
"It is against the spirit of the NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) and non-proliferation regime. It brings a number of risks associated with the AUKUS alliance itself and the submarine nuclear deal, in particular. And those risks should be properly addressed. 
First, there is a lack of transparency from the state parties of AUKUS, despite the public statements, where they promised to be transparent. There is a lack of information on what is planned, how they will proceed. Second, they are trying to negotiate the so-called Article 14 arrangement with IAEA Secretariat behind closed doors with no engagement of other experts and specialists from other states trying to exclude many countries from the discussion.
And I think this is a big risk because those approaches, those principles which are followed by AUKUS member states now could undermine not only the NPT but probably which is even more importantly the credibility of the IAEA."
 
The Russian expert warned that the deal may stimulate the interest of other states without nuclear weapons to build nuclear submarines and prompt a potential arms race in the region.
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANTON KHLOPKOV, Director of the Russian think tank Center for Energy and Security Studies (CENESS)
"It is in the best interest of all states to collectively address the challenges, and risks, and the root for collectively found solutions. First, states need to take steps to uphold the international nuclear security regime."
 
He also called on the three AUKUS countries to increase transparency regarding their submarine cooperation, and advised IAEA member states and the IAEA Board of Governors to participate in the development of the AUKUS-related safeguards arrangements.
 
At Wednesday's seminar, CENESS and the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association (CACDA) released a joint report on the serious risks of the AUKUS deal.
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Vienna.
(XHTV)