- The Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary are in Australia
for meetings with Foreign Minister Payne and Defence Minister
Peter Dutton
- The visit comes just four months after the UK, US and
Australia agreed to forge a new partnership through AUKUS.
- Truss will also sign a new agreement on infrastructure
cooperation with Australia
Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary will visit Australia this week, as the UK forges
closer defence and security ties with the nation.
Truss begins the first leg of an official visit to Australia
today, using her trip to focus on economic, security and
technology interests as well as standing up against malign
aggressors.
Defence Secretary will join the Foreign Secretary in Sydney to hold
talks with their counterparts, Foreign Minister Marise Payne and
Defence Minister Peter Dutton.
In the first AUKMIN since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic,
Ministers will discuss security and defence capability, building
on AUKUS, and commit to tackling state and hybrid threats and
jointly supporting maritime security.
The visit comes in the face of growing aggression from Russia,
which is waging to destabilise and threaten its sovereign
neighbour Ukraine, and increasing threats in the Indo-Pacific.
It also comes during crucial days for the Tongan relief effort,
as the UK works urgently with Australian and New Zealand
counterparts to support those affected.
Foreign Secretary said:
“With malign forces threatening global peace and stability it is
vital that close allies like the UK and Australia show robust
vigilance in defence of freedom and democracy.
“The AUKUS partnership between the UK, Australia and the United
States is a clear demonstration of how we will defend our values,
protect trade routes and increase stability across the
Indo-Pacific.
“In Australia, I will be strengthening our economic, diplomatic
and security ties - making our country safer and more competitive
- in order to win the battle for ideas as part of our network of
liberty.”
Defence Secretary said:
“The UK and Australia share one of the oldest and strongest
Defence and security alliances.
“Operating and exercising side by side, we continue to work
together to promote stability, and tackle our shared threats with
our like-minded ally head on.”
Truss will also agree to closer cooperation with Australia to
boost opportunities for honest and reliable infrastructure
investment for Indo-Pacific states – to end strategic dependency
on malign actors in the areas of energy, investment and
technology.
And on technology, the Foreign Secretary will discuss how best to
strengthen global technology supply chains and tackle malign
actors who disrupt cyber-space.
On the second leg of the visit, the Foreign Secretary will travel
to Adelaide to build on the recently signed free trade deal,
including by signing an agreement to boost UK-Australia business
links for key industries including space, cyber, science and
technology with the State of South Australia. This is alongside
the UK’s work to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement
for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Truss will also be visiting the BAE Systems shipyard to see how
British business expertise is responsible for building frigates
for the Australian Navy.
