WASHINGTON: The US decision to sell nuclear-powered submarines to Australia has put at risk longstanding but fragile global pacts to prevent the proliferation of dangerous nuclear technologies, according to experts.
Nuclear-powered submarines can spend weeks on end beneath the surface, travelling long distances undetected, only limited by stocks of food and water for the crew, generally a maximum of three months. US Navy ships"use about 100 nuclear bombs' worth of HEU each year, more than all of the world's other reactors combined," he said.Only six countries - the United States, Britain, France, China, India and Russia - have nuclear-powered submarines. Countries have been cautious about allowing the spread of the technology and the fuel.
He said it could encourage non-nuclear weapons countries like Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Saudi Arabia or South Korea to buy nuclear submarines that could give them weapons-grade fuel.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
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