This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese and the Quad on Shinzo Abe’s death, the Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting, the Pacific Island Forum Leaders’ Meeting, the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and more.

On 8 July, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese issued a statement on the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Albanese noted that Abe “was one of Australia’s closest friends on the world stage” and that Abe’s “vision … helped elevate [the] bilateral relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership in 2014.” He further stated that “the Quad and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership are in many ways the results of [Abe’s] diplomatic leadership.”

Albanese also issued a joint statement alongside his fellow Quad leaders, United States President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Abe’s assassination. The leaders noted that “Prime Minister Abe was a transformative leader for Japan and for Japanese relations with each one of our countries” and that Abe “played a formative role in the founding of the Quad partnership, and worked tirelessly to advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.” They further stated that they will “honour Prime Minister Abe’s memory by redoubling our work towards a peaceful and prosperous region.”

On 8 July, Albanese met with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in Sydney for the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting. The leaders discussed “the richness of trans-Tasman cooperation; their shared perspectives on regional and global issues; and [their] joint desire to see [their] world-leading cooperation grow from strength-to-strength.” They further acknowledged that their meeting was taking place during NAIDOC Week in Australia, and considered “the unique role of Māori and Australia’s First Nations peoples in the identity of both our countries.” They also committed “to working together to continue strengthening indigenous voices and perspectives in policymaking and diplomacy, including through the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand Indigenous Collaboration Agreement.”

In a joint press conference following the Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting, Albanese announced that there will be “annual meetings between our economic ministers and international ministers”, and that “our economic ministers … include [our] climate change [ministers].” He also noted that Australia will “work on ways of a pathway to citizenship [for New Zealanders living in Australia] with a timeline of Anzac Day 2023”, as well as considering voting rights for New Zealanders living in Australia for at least one year.

Albanese travelled to Fiji on 13 July for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in Suva, the first in-person Leaders’ Meeting since 2019. Of the visit, Albanese stated that “it is a privilege to visit Fiji to participate in the Pacific Islands Forum. I look forward to meeting my fellow Pacific leaders, hearing their priorities and learning from their experiences.” The visit will be Albanese’s first trip to the Pacific as Prime Minister. He further stated that “a strong, united Pacific Islands Forum is vital to protecting our shared interests in a peaceful, prosperous and resilient region and to addressing the pressing challenges our region faces.”

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong attended the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Bali, Indonesia this week, along with Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy. On 8 July, she addressed the Plenary Session on Strengthening Multilateralism. In her speech, she stated that “when countries act against [the multilateral] system … they act against the international community”, and that “we have all benefited from the multilateral system [and] we will all pay the price if we allow it to falter.” She reaffirmed Australia’s support for Ukraine’s “sovereignty, its territorial integrity and its people” and stated that “Russia alone is responsible for its actions and needs to end the conflict [in Ukraine] and the human and economic suffering it is causing.” Further, Wong argued that “it is only through [multilateral] cooperation that we will be able to deal with these serious threats to our livelihoods and ensure global peace and security.”

Wong also met with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on 8 July at the conclusion of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. In a press release, she noted that she “welcomed” the discussion “on issues of concern between our two countries – as well as [on] the prosperity, security and stability of the region.” Wong stated that the two Ministers “spoke frankly and listened carefully to each other’s priorities and concerns”, and that she “raised Australia’s concerns about a range of bilateral, regional, trade and consular issues.” Further, Wong noted that “we have our differences, but it is in both our countries’ interests for the relationship to be stabilised” and that the Australian Government “will always seek to resolve issues calmly and consistently under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and in accordance with our national interests.” In a doorstop following the meeting, Wong referred to it as “the first step towards stabilising the relationship.”

Minister for Defence Richard Marles travelled to the United States on 11 July to meet with his United States counterpart, Lloyd J. Austin III, “as well as members of the United States Government, Congress, the defence and national security community, and industry partners.” Marles stated that Australia “ha[s] no more important defence partner than the United States” and that the ANZUS Treaty “has been a powerful demonstration that neither the US [n]or Australia stand alone.”

While in Washington, D.C., Marles addressed the Center for Strategic and International Studies on 12 July, which he referred to as “an institution that has done so much to support clear-eyed national security decision making in a complex world.” Marles reflected on the United States-Australia alliance as “a unique and thriving project: driven not only by our nations’ geopolitical interests, but also by our profound commitment to democracy, open economies, [and] free and just societies.” However, he further argued that “notwithstanding our strong foundations, we can’t afford to stand still. Because in the years ahead, the US-Australia alliance will not only have to operate in a much more challenging strategic environment in the Indo-Pacific; it will need to contribute to a more effective balance of military power aimed at avoiding a catastrophic failure of deterrence.” Marles stated that “we will make the [United States-Australia] Alliance even stronger, as we all work together for a more secure, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific, and a safer world.”

On 12 July, Minister for Trade Don Farrell and Minister for Resources Madeleine King issued a joint media release where they announced that Australia has joined the global Minerals Security Partnership, alongside the United States, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the European Commission. Farrell noted that the Partnership “seeks to catalyse public and private investment for mining, processing and recycling projects that adhere to the highest environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards.” King stated that “Australia is determined to play a constructive role in international efforts to reduce emissions, while preparing Australia to become a clean energy superpower.”

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.

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