Pacific Island Forums Chairman' Reassured' Over Massive Nuclear Submarine Deal
The Pacific Islands Forum chairman has been assured by the United States that the AUKUS agreement will honour the Treaty of Rarotonga after initially saying he felt it would go against it.
Wednesday 12 April 2023 | 18:45
US President Joe Biden(right center) meets with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left center) during the AUKUS summit at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego California on March 13, 2023. Photo: RNZ
The Pacific Islands Forum chairman has been assured by the United States that the AUKUS agreement will honour the Treaty of Rarotonga after initially saying he felt it would go against it.
The Treaty of Rarotonga formalises a nuclear-weapon-free-zone in the South Pacific. It was signed by several Pacific nations including Australia and New Zealand in 1985.
In a media statement, forum chairman and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown said he was “reassured to receive from US counterparts last week assurances that AUKUS would uphold the Rarotonga Treaty”.
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Brown initially raised concerns with the Cook Islands News about the agreement.
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Source: RNZ
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