La política exterior de Australia y la cooperación nuclear entre Australia y Rusia tras el conflicto de Osetia del Sur

Abstract

In September 2008, the Australian government announced its intention to delay the ratification of the uranium sale agreement negotiated with Russia the previous year with the government of John Howard, using the crisis in South Ossetia to justify this change of position. The government of Kevin Rudd stated that the ratification of this agreement would be delayed until the completion of a review process by the Joint Sanding Committee on Treaties, established in February 2008 by the Government with the purpose of examining and revising Australia’s role in disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation treaties. This decision constitutes a step back in the current Australian Government’s attempts to reshape its foreign policy to adjust it to its strategic capabilities and geopolitical context, and to increase the country’s presence and weight in international fora. This paper briefly examines the historical trends in Australian foreign policy and the changes that took place as a result of the change in government that took place in 2007. This analysis will be followed by an examination of the reasons provided for the delay in the ratification of the uranium sale agreement negotiated with Russia placing the analysis in the context of the role that Australia plays as the main reserve of uranium worldwide and as an active advocate of disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation mechanisms, as well as its status as a Western country located in the Asian region.