WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the administration’s announcement of an enhanced defense technology cooperation with the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia:
“I am pleased to see the Biden Administration working closely with the UK and Australia to deepen defense technology cooperation, especially in undersea warfare. I have called for such cooperation in many venues, including my report on transatlantic cooperation regarding China, my STRATEGIC Act, and the Strategic Competition Act.
“Collaborating with allies and partners to advance critical technologies is imperative. We must build capacity for defense technology security, design major defense capabilities for export to allies and partners, and forge a coalition among advanced democracies to reduce barriers to collaboration. Today’s announcement is an important step in bolstering our deterrence given the changing strategic environment in the Indo-Pacific.
“More will be needed to maximize the success of this effort. Australia and the UK need to improve their technology security and export controls, the Department of Defense must improve its foreign disclosure and acquisition processes, and the Department of State must update its export regulations. I look forward to working with the executive branch, especially the Department of State, to ensure such reforms and to make this initiative a success.”
For more on Senator Risch’s proposals for technology cooperation with allies and partners:
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