Special Relationship Military Improvement Act of 2025

This bill, the Special Relationship Military Improvement Act of 2025, would change U.S. law to make it easier to export defense items to the United Kingdom by removing the licensing requirement in the absence of a bilateral agreement. Specifically, it would add the United Kingdom to the list of countries (along with Canada) for which an exemption from mandatory licensing can apply under the Arms Export Control Act. In addition, the bill creates an exception related to the U.S.–Australia Defense Trade Cooperation Treaty, allowing an exemption for certain defense items to give effect to that treaty, but with explicit limits on particularly sensitive categories (for example, certain missiles, rocket systems, nuclear-related items, toxic/biological agents, and items Australia may not be able to enforce under the treaty). In short, it prioritizes a stronger U.S.–UK defense relationship and modulates, rather than eliminates, controls on highly sensitive items.