英语文摘：U.S. Senate OKs defense pacts with Britain, Australia

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Senate has ratified the long-delayed Defense Trade Cooperation Treaties with Britain and Australia, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry said Thursday.

In a statement, Kerry said the pacts were ratified late Wednesday, and by "eliminating unnecessary red tape," the treaties will facilitate relations between the countries. He called Britain and Australia "vital partners in supporting our broader foreign policy agenda."

Kerry said the treaties will help make cooperation between the United States and these two nations more streamlined, efficient, and effective by removing "bureaucratic delays," which means regulators need to approve defense sales to the two countries, which were rarely refused.

The pacts were signed by former president George W. Bush. The treaties permit the United States to trade many defense articles with Britain and Australia without an export license.