U.S. Department of State

11/14/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/14/2024 16:02

United States and United Kingdom Bring Amendment to Mutual Defense Agreement into Force

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United States and United Kingdom Bring Amendment to Mutual Defense Agreement into Force

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

November 14, 2024

Today, on November 14, 2024, the United States and the United Kingdom (UK) brought into force an amendment to the 1958 Agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom for Cooperation on the Uses of Atomic Energy for Mutual Defense Purposes. This Agreement allows our two nations to exchange equipment as well as classified and controlled unclassified information for defense purposes. It is the most comprehensive such agreement that the United States has with any country.

Today's amendment will make the Agreement enduring in its entirety, thus continuing our longstanding cooperation and enhancing U.S. and UK technical capabilities to meet current and future threats.

The amendment also reflects the strength and durability of the U.S.-UK cooperation on these issues, as well as the special relationship between the United States and the UK, which spans the full range of foreign and security policy priorities.

The Agreement, including its amendments, and our cooperation are fully consistent with the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which is the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime.