This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese travels to PNG for Annual Leaders’ Dialogue; Marles and Conroy announce $1 billion investment in Naval Strike Missile and HIMARS launchers.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese travelled to Papua New Guinea on 12 January to attend the Annual Leaders’ Dialogue alongside his counterpart, Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape. Albanese noted that he is “looking forward to starting the New Year with a visit to Papua New Guinea to reinforce the strong bond between our two countries” and thanked Prime Minister Marape for the invitation. He further stated that “Australia and Papua New Guinea are close not just geographically, but also because of our long history and shared vision for the future.”

On 5 January, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, alongside Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy, announced that the Government is investing over $1 billion to acquire the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) to be employed on the Hobart class destroyers and Anzac Class frigates from 2024, as well as the “land-based, long-range, surface-to-surface High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)”, which will be in use “by 2026-7.” Marles stated that “in the current strategic environment, it’s important the Australian Defence Force is equipped with high-end, targeted military capabilities” and that “the Albanese Government is taking a proactive approach to keeping Australia safe – and the Naval Strike Missile and HIMARS launchers will give our Defence Force the ability to deter conflict and protect our interests.” Conroy noted that the Government “is getting on with delivering the Australian Defence Force the capability it needs for the 21^st century.”

Isabella Keith is a weekly columnist for Australian Outlook. She is also an undergraduate student at the Australian National University studying Law and Politics, Philosophy and Economics. Isabella’s research interests include international law and comparative constitutional law.