Legal Regime of Use of Nuclear Energy in Non-Proscribed Military Activities with an Emphasis on Aukus Case

Subject Areas : International Legal Research

Saleh Rezaei Pishrobat ¹ ( Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute )

Received: 2024-03-07 Accepted : 2024-07-04 Published : 2024-09-21

Keywords: Aukus, International Atomic Energy Agency, Non proscribed military activity, Nuclear Energy, Safeguards ,

Abstract :

International law, while prohibiting non-nuclear weapon states from acquiring nuclear weapons, has allowed them to use nuclear materials in non-proscribed military activities and under certain conditions, exclude them from International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. Following the conclusion of the Pact between the US, UK and Australia in September 2021 to transfer of 12 military nuclear submarines by the first two states to Australia (known as the Aukus Pact), non-applicability of the Agency safeguard to these activities has become an international concern and the issue was placed on the agenda of the Board of Governors of the Agency. The legal definition of the this non proscribed military activity or and also legal base of permissibility of using nuclear materials in these activities in international law are question the present article has studied I in a descriptive-analytical way with an emphasis on the Ankus Case. The findings of this research indicate that the existing international law allows the non-nuclear weapon states to enjoy the non-proscribed military uses of nuclear energy and to exclude its related activities from the the Agency safeguards, but this is regarded as a grey area and a legal lacuna of the nuclear non-proliferation regime has caused international concerns.

References:

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