US Nat'l Security Adviser Calls for Continued Export Control Modernization
U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan this week called for a rethink of strategic technology controls and suggested that the incoming Trump administration look to build on the Biden administration's export control modernization efforts.
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Sullivan, speaking Dec. 4 at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said those efforts have included export control changes under the AUKUS partnership, which have lifted some barriers to defense trade among the U.S., Australia and the U.K. (see 2408160019). He also said his team is “finalizing a national security memorandum on missile technology exports to modernize our implementation" of the Missile Technology Control Regime.
Researchers with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute recently recommended steps to address rising proliferation risks within the missile technology industry (see 2411050009).
When asked about the potential of expanding the AUKUS treaty to additional countries, Sullivan said "we don't have any plans to expand Pillar I of AUKUS, which is conventionally armed nuclear power,” but that there is room for other allied countries in Pillar II, which is focused on expanding defense trade. He didn't mention plans to expand the AUKUS exemption to capture more items, which Republican lawmakers have called for (see 2410020038).
Sullivan acknowledged that national security threats are changing, which he said warrants updating export control architectures. "The fact is, our nonproliferation and export control regimes, especially when it comes to allies, were formulated in a different era. The risks were different. The nature of technology diffusion was different.”
He also spoke of the economic benefits of export control reform, saying “cooperation with our allies and partners [through export control] enhances not just our national security, but frankly, our joint economic prosperity. We're creating jobs for American workers, opening new markets for American businesses, all while reaping the clear national security benefits of this work.”
Modernizing export controls will improve U.S. national security by elevating the technological capabilities of allied nations, he said, adding that “outdated restrictions have actually caused us to withhold critical technologies from close partners and close allies, and without a significant change in the way we do business, our friends could be left behind as our adversaries march forward with deeper technology sharing among themselves.” These adjustments will allow closer integration with allies and an increased “collective deterrence” with respect to long range and precision guided munitions.
Sullivan emphasized the U.S. commitment to nonproliferation to “keep these technologies out of the hands of bad actors.” But he also spoke of the need to increase flexibility in export controls to be able to transfer technology to “certain partners with strong export control systems.”