Reps. Young Kim, R-Calif., Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., and Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., introduced the AUKUS Reform for Military Optimization and Review Act, or ARMOR, Act on June 27.
Kim, chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee, said Monday the bipartisan bill aims to optimize and reinforce the trilateral security partnership between Australia, United Kingdom and United States, or AUKUS. The proposed bill is intended to fast-track and strengthen the review processes for transfers, exports and activities involving advanced technologies and defense services.
What Is AUKUS?
Established in 2021, AUKUS is a trilateral security agreement uniting Australia, the UK and the U.S. to strengthen defense cooperation. The strategic alliance is structured around two key pillars. Pillar I is dedicated to assisting Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines. Pillar II, the ARMOR Act’s primary concern, is focused on the joint development and sharing of advanced technologies to bolster military and defense technologies.
“The AUKUS trilateral security partnership protects our national security and projects shared strength. The ARMOR Act will improve and streamline the expedited review process for AUKUS activities involving advanced technologies and defense articles and services,” said Kim.
“Expediting the sale of defense items and services to these close allies will strengthen our partnership and enhance America’s strength worldwide,” remarked Zinke, chairman of the Arms Sales Task Force.
“Since its creation in 2021, AUKUS has played a transformative role in allowing the United States to counter the rising threat China poses and shape a free and open Indo-Pacific for years to come,” stated Dean.
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