The Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary will bolster closer
cooperation between the UK and Australia at the annual Australia
UK Foreign and Defence Ministerial meetings (AUKMIN) in Canberra
and Adelaide.
They will underline the ties that allow the UK and Australia to
work closely together on everything from trade to security,
boosting mutual prosperity, growing both economies and keeping
our people safe.
and will meet with Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister for Defence Richard to collectively
galvanise support on shared global challenges including support
for Ukraine, peace in the Middle East and stability in the
Indo-Pacific.
The ministers will take stock of the progress made under AUKUS,
the landmark defence and security partnership between the UK, US,
and Australia reflecting the deep level of trust and cooperation
between our countries. One of the most strategically important
capability collaborations in decades, AUKUS is a central part of
the UK’s efforts to deepen relationships with our closest
partners to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The Foreign Secretary, said:
The UK and Australia have strong and enduring bonds which have
never been more important than they are
today.
Our relationship is a point of stability in a fast-changing,
dangerous and uncertain world.
Those ties, that understanding of one another, allow us to work
closely on our joint priorities and face up to global
challenges.
The Defence Secretary, said:
The UK and Australia fought side by side 80 years ago against
tyranny on the beaches of Normandy. Today our two great nations
continue to stand together to secure peace and prosperity the
world over.
We’re facing the challenges of a more dangerous world together,
and through partnerships like AUKUS and our continued support to
Ukraine, we’re defending our freedoms and shared values.
On Ukraine, the UK and Australia stand shoulder-to-shoulder
against Putin’s illegal invasion, and already work closely
together, such as through our joint work to train over 35,000
Ukrainian recruits in the UK, and Australia’s contribution to the
UK-led International Fund for Ukraine.
On the Middle East, the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary
will drive forwards the UK’s desire for an immediate humanitarian
pause in the fighting in Gaza, to get aid in and hostages out,
then progress towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without
a return to destruction, fighting and loss of
life.
The Foreign Secretary and Foreign Minister Wong will also
recognise that the rates of Gender Based Violence in the Pacific
are amongst the highest in the world and act to prevent
escalation through a Memorandum of Understanding.
Over the past two years alone, Australian capital investors’
commitments to the UK have been in excess of £41 billion and they
are already unpinning UK infrastructure and supporting urban
transformations. At a meeting with Australia’s major capital
investors, the Foreign Secretary will highlight the importance of
Australian capital to the UK economy and encourage investors to
diversify and support energy transition and HMG’s key
priorities.
The Foreign Secretary will show the strength of the UK-Australia
trading relationship through our Free Trade Agreement. The deal -
which came into force last year and means there are no tariffs on
100% of UK goods exports to Australia and over 99% of Australian
goods exports to the UK - has brought benefits to Britons and
Australians alike, creating jobs and growth in both
countries.
He will also press for the ratification of the Comprehensive and
Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP),
signed in July last year. With the Indo-Pacific set to account
for half of global growth by 2050, membership of the CPTPP would
enhance the UK’s economic engagement and promote prosperity in
the region.
He will also push for joint action on climate finance for Small
Island Developing States and a more representative multilateral
system better equipped to deliver against today’s
challenges.
This includes dealing with the devasting effects of climate
change, where Island States in the Pacific are on the front line.
The UK and Australia will look to step up their commitments to
limit global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees, including by
transitioning to renewable energy sources, promoting low-emission
technologies as part of a joint Clean Tech partnership the 2
countries signed in 2021.
The Defence Secretary will meet with defence companies during an
industry roundtable to discuss greater government and industry
cooperation and drive forward support for
Ukraine.
He will also attend the Last Post ceremony at the Australian War
Memorial where he will lay a wreath in memory of all those who
have given their lives for our freedoms.
