This week in Australian foreign affairs: Australia confirmed it will host the next South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting, joined an ASEAN-led maritime security activity, deepened defence science ties with New Zealand, continued enforcing UN sanctions against North Korea, and more.
On 24 September, the Defence Minister announced Australia will be hosting the 12th South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting in 2027. The announcement was made following this year’s meeting held in Fiji last week with representatives arriving from Australia, Chile, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga, and observers from Japan, the UK and the US. The Defence Minister “thank[s] Fiji for hosting a successful meeting and look[s] forward to welcoming our Pacific partners to Australia next year.
On 30 September, the Defence Department announced that Australia had participated in an ASEAN-led joint training activity. Held from 20-26 September, Defence Force personnel were deployed to the Philippines for a Defence Ministers’ Meeting and an Experts’ Working Group on Maritime Security Joint Cooperative Activity. The department says by joining in the activity it “reflects Australia’s longstanding commitment to ASEAN-centrality and the ASEAN-led regional architecture.”
During the annual Five Eyes Science and Technology Principals meeting last week, Australia and New Zealand signed onto an agreement strengthening defence science cooperation. Highlighting three focus areas for strengthening cooperation and harnessing innovation, the two countries have expressed commitments to broader integration, upskilling through visits and personnel exchanges, and partnering across defence, industry and academic sectors. Australia’s Chief Defence Scientist says the “Statement of Intent provides a practical framework for our defence science organisations to deepen collaboration, share expertise and pursue areas of mutual interest.”
Last week, the Royal Australian Air Force deployed a maritime patrol aircraft, demonstrating Australia’s continued commitment to enforcing UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea. Working alongside various like-minded nations, the operation works to support international efforts focused on gathering information on illegal transfers of sanctioned goods to and from North Korea.
On 1 October, the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties held a hearing in Parliament reviewing the Ocean Peace Alliance and Fiji-Australia Vuvale Union. The Committee Chair, Ms Lisa Chesters MP, said “the inquiries into the Fiji defence and security treaties allow Parliament to investigate whether these treaties are in Australia’s strategic and economic interest.”
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