This week in Australian foreign affairs: AUKMIN 2022, more support for Tonga, Morrison’s World Economic Forum address, and more.

On 21 January, Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne and Minister for Defence Peter Dutton met with their United Kingdom counterparts Elizabeth Truss and Ben Wallace in Sydney for the Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) 2022. In a joint statement, the Ministers committed to “progressing [their] modern, dynamic and enduring strategic partnership”, “deepening strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific”, “defending international rules and norms and [their] liberal democratic values”, “strengthening resilience at home and overseas”, and “taking meaningful action to counter climate change”.

Payne introduced Truss’ speech, “Strong allies and steadfast friends”, to the Lowy Institute on 21 January. In her introduction, Payne reflected on her “very productive and very cooperative” interactions with Truss, including during AUKMIN. Payne noted that “a close UK-Australia relationship is vital in today’s complex and fractious strategic environment in which authoritarian regimes are behaving as though now is their time to increase oppression internally and coerce others internationally.”

On 20 January, Payne issued a statement on the UK-Australia Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership, which was signedthat day with Truss. The Partnership centres around four pillars: “tackling malign actors; promoting our values and positive vision for technology; strengthening global technology supply chains; and harnessing technology to solve global challenges.” The first initiatives under the Partnership include “strategic co-ordination of our cyber sanctions regimes” and developing an “action plan on global standard-setting to ensure global standards deliver on our security priorities, economic interests and reflect our values.”

Payne and Truss further noted on 20 January that they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to work to encourage “clean, reliable and transparent infrastructure investment in the Indo-Pacific.” The Ministers noted that the new agreement will “set the scope for joint and complementary financing and technical assistance for high-standard development projects such as disaster resilient and climate adapted infrastructure.”

On 26 January, Payne, Dutton, and Minister for International Development and the Pacific Zed Seselja, jointly announced further humanitarian support for Tonga. The Ministers noted in their media release that the Australian Government will provide an additional $2 million in humanitarian funding. This funding will “assist Tonga as it moves to the next phase of its recovery”. They further noted that Australia is “coordinating [its] assistance closely with other partners, including France and New Zealand under the FRANZ Pacific humanitarian response partnership, as well as Fiji, Japan, the United States, United Kingdom and non-government organisations.” This announcement followed a media releaseon 20 January issued by Payne, Dutton and Seselja which noted that a Royal Australian Air Force C-17A aircraft had arrived in Tonga to deliver part of the initial package of “urgent humanitarian assistance.”

Payne, Dutton and Seselja further noted that Australia had delivered emergency medical supplies to Solomon Islands on 23 January. Dutton said that “tackling COVID-19 is a global challenge” and stated that he was “pleased the [Australian Defence Force] can support Solomon Islands’ pandemic response.” Seselja further stated that Australia is “partnering closely with Solomon Islands Government to identify any additional suppot required.”

Payne, Seselja, and Minister for Trade Dan Tehan delivered a joint press release on 21 January where they announced $580 million in financing “to support the repair and upgrade of several key ports in Papua New Guinea.” The investment will be financed by the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific. Payne noted that the support “strengthens Australia’s enduring friendship with Papua New Guinea through a fiscally sustainable partnership in quality port infrastructure.” Tehan stated that the upgrades will “create further opportunities for Papua New Guinea and the Pacific to engage in global trade” by making it easier for container ships to enter the country. Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke at the virtual signing of the Australia-Papua New Guinea Ports Investment Program, where he said that “Papua New Guinea’s success is Australia’s success” and that “our agreement today … is an expression of great confidence in Papua New Guinea’s future.”

On 21 January, Morrison virtually addressed the World Economic Forum’s Davos Agenda 2022. In his speech, he reflected on the fact that “COVID is helping accelerate big political, economic and technological changes that have been happening for some time.” He identified five “forces that have been shaping a post-pandemic world”: “the acceleration of the digital economy”, “heightened demand for skills and research talent in our economy”, the emergence of “a sharper geo-political competition”, “new pressures on global supply chains and open trade”, and “the drive towards decarbonisation in the global economy.”

Morrison announced on 21 January that the world’s first shipment of liquefied hydrogen would soon be exported to Japan as part of the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) pilot project. He stated that the project “is key to both Australia and Japan” and “puts Australia at the forefront of the global energy transition to lower emissions through clean hydrogen, which is a fuel of the future.” He further announced $7.5 million “to support the next $184 million pre-commercialisation phase of HESC.”

On 21 January, Minister for Immigration Alex Hawke issued a media release regarding Australia’s increased visa allocation for Afghan nationals. He stated that the Australian Government will provide “at least 15,000 places” through the Humanitarian and Family Visa Program over the next four years. The announcement follows the initial allocation of 3,000 places in August 2021, which Hawke referred to as “a floor and not a ceiling.” He further noted that the Government “will continue to monitor processing numbers and reserves the right to increase the program in future years.”

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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