Australia has said “all nations” – including the US – should refrain from nuclear weapons testing after Donald Trump announced plans to potentially start exploding nukes for the first time in more than three decades.
Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Matt Thistlethwaite said the globe was entering a “critical time” where limits on weapons of mass destruction are being eroded.
He is in New York this week representing Australia at a United Nations review of efforts to stop the spread and use of nuclear weapons.
Mr Thistlethwaite also told news.com.au that on the sidelines of the meeting he had held “frank conversations” with nations such as Japan, South Korea and Singapore to get “assurances” on fuel supplies to Australia.
‘Critical time’ for stopping nuclear weapons
The UN’s Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) entered into force in 1970 and now has 191 signatories, with notable exceptions being nuclear nations India, Pakistan and Israel.
The aim of the treaty is to stop the spread of nuclear arms and push for disarmament.
But New START, the last agreement to prevent the US and Russia from building more bombs, expired in February.
There are now concerns that a global nuclear arms race could be on the cards.
On Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the New York meeting, “for too long, the treaty has been eroding.”
“The drivers of (nuclear) proliferation are accelerating.”
There’s little expectation the conference will notably change that gloomy outlook.
‘Critical time’
Asked if Australians should be concerned about the threat of nuclear weapons, Mr Thistlethwaite told news.com.au the New York review “does occur at a critical time.”
“We’ve got increasing uncertainty in the global geostrategic situation, particularly around the Middle East and Ukraine, and there’s increasing tension within the Asia Pacific region.
“We’re going to make sure that Australia plays a role in de-escalation, supporting peaceful outcomes and upholding the international rules.
“We want to see a world where the spread of nuclear weapons is prevented … and we’ve been a loud voice in ensuring that nations shouldn’t be involved in testing nuclear weapons anymore.”
No nation should test nukes – including US
But one louder voice doesn’t seem to be on the same page as Australia.
In October, Donald Trump said the US would resume nuclear weapons testing “on an equal basis” with other nations.
“That process will begin immediately,” he said.
Mr Trump’s comments have led to confusion about what new US nuclear testing might involve.
The last country to explode an actual bomb was North Korea in 2017. The US and Russia haven’t tested nuclear weapons since the early 1990s. But Vladimir Putin claimed recently that Russia had tested a nuclear-powered torpedo that was capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
Would Australia be against the US resuming tests with actual nuclear bombs?
“We’re against all nations testing nuclear weapons,” Mr Thistlethwaite said, who did not mention the US by name.
“We know Maralinga (the UK’s 1950s nuclear weapons testing site in Australia) had a lingering effect on the Indigenous community.
“We want to make sure that we don’t see those situations in our region again, or indeed anywhere in the world.”
Iran nuclear role ‘not appropriate’
There was uproar at the UN NPT conference when Iran was announced as one of 34 vice presidents of the event.
Assistant Secretary for the US Bureau of Arms Control and Non-proliferation Christopher Yeaw told the conference it was an “affront” that Iran had been appointed to the role.
“(It is) indisputable that Iran has long demonstrated its contempt for the non-proliferation commitments of the NPT.
Iran’s role was “beyond shameful and an embarrassment to the credibility of this conference,” he was reported by Reuters as saying.
Ms Thistlethwaite said Australia had “expressed its concern and opposition” to Iran’s elevation.
“That wasn’t the appropriate move, and we’ve expressed our support for the United States position”.
‘Frank conversations’ with oil nations
Mr Thistlethwaite added that he had meetings with countries on the fringes of the event, including those critical to Australia’s energy security.
“An important part of this trip is working with our international partners on securing Australia’s fuel supplies,” he said.
“Most of our refined oil products come through Southeast Asia, so I’ve had meetings with (South) Korea, Singapore, Japan, Vietnam … to reiterate the importance that open trade and supplies continue to get through.
“It’s been heartening to have those frank conversations with those partners, to get those assurances regarding continued fuel supplies and to ensure that they remain trusted partners for Australia.”
Mr Thistlethwaite mentioned Australia’s trump card with nations that export oil – Australia’s abundance of liquid natural gas (LNG), which many countries need just as keenly.
“We’re a big supplier of LNG exports to countries in the region, and we’ve been making sure that we reiterate that fact that we’re a reliable supplier that will continue and the relationship with those important fuel partners is in a pretty strong position.”
