This week in Australian foreign affairs: Morrison’s National Press Club address, statements on Myanmar, diplomatic announcements, support for Solomon Islands, and more.

In his address to the National Press Club on 1 February, Prime Minister Scott Morrison referred to the current geopolitical climate as “one of the most significant shifts in global and regional security we have seen since before the Second World War.” Morrison further stated that this shift “present[s] a direct threat to Australia’s economic and security interests.” He discussed Australia’s response to this “direct threat”, including concluding the AUKUS agreement, “power[ing] up the Quad”, and concluding comprehensive strategic partnerships with India, South Korea, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.

On 1 February, Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne issued a joint statement on the one-year anniversary of the military coup in Myanmar. The statement was issued by Payne’s counterparts at the European Union, Albania, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Foreign Ministers stated that the “devastating impact [of the coup] on the people of Myanmar is clear.” They expressed “grave concern over the large number of persons arbitrarily detained and the sentencing of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and other political detainees.” The Ministers urged all members of the international community “to support efforts to promote justice for the people of Myanmar; to hold those responsible for human rights violations and abuses accountable; to cease the sale and transfer of arms, materiel, dual-use equipment, and technical assistance to the military and its representatives; and to continue supporting the people of Myanmar in meeting urgent humanitarian needs.”

Payne also issued her own statement on the Myanmar coup anniversary, urging the military to “exercise restraint and to release all those arbitrarily detained, including Australian Professor Sean Turnell.” She stated that Australia “strongly supports” ASEAN’s leadership and urged the military to “honour its commitment to implement ASEAN’s Five Point Consensus.” Payne noted that “Australia will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to those most in need and remains committed to working with regional and international partners in response to these crises.”

On 31 January, Payne made several diplomatic announcements: Mr Ian Biggs as Australia’s next Ambassador for Arms Control and Counter-Proliferation; Ms Christine Clarke CSC as Australia’s next Ambassador for Women and Girls; Ms Heidi Bootle as Australia’s next High Commissioner to Vanuatu; Ms Louise Ellerton as Australia’s next High Commissioner to Niue; Mr Luke Arnold as Australia’s next High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam; and Mr Edward Russell as Australia’s next Representative to the Palestinian Territories.

Payne, alongside Minister for Defence Peter Dutton and Minister for International Development and the Pacific Zed Seselja, noted on 29 January that an Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) had been deployed to support Solomon Islands’ COVID-19 response. The AUSMAT specialists also delivered 37,800 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to support Solomon Islands’ vaccination efforts. The team “will work alongside local health authorities and provide Solomon Islands’ Ministry of Health with mentoring and advice on the clinical management of COVID-19 cases, the distribution of critical health supplies and infection protection and control.”

On 1 February, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) issued a joint statement alongside France and New Zealand (FRANZ) on emergency humanitarian assistance to Tonga. The nations “reiterate[d] their solidarity with the Kingdom of Tonga” following the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano on 15 January. They noted that following the eruption, they had “immediately activated the FRANZ mechanism, currently chaired by France, which enables them to coordinate their emergency action in the event of a natural disaster in the South Pacific.” The nations further noted that their support is being deployed “at the request of the Tongan authorities and in liaison with the National Emergency Management Office of Tonga”.

Minister for Trade Dan Tehan commented on the initiation of World Trade Organization (WTO) proceedings by the European Union against China on 29 January. Tehan noted that “Australia opposes the use of economic coercion and discriminatory and restrictive trade practices which undermine the rules-based international trading system and cause economic harm.” He expressed Australia’s strong support for the WTO dispute settlement system, and noted that “Australia has a substantial interest in the issues raised in the dispute brought by the European Union against China regarding discriminatory trade practices imposed on Lithuania and will request to join these consultations.”

On 27 January, the Department of Defence issued a statement noting that the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will deploy aircraft and personnel to Guam and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands to participate in Exercise Cope North 2022 alongside the United States and Japan. The trilateral exercise is focused on “increased interoperability of the RAAF, [United States Air Force (USAF)] and [Japan Air Self-Defense Force (Koku-Jieitai)] through combined tactics, techniques and procedures for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations and large-force employment.” RAAF Task Unit Commander, Group Captain Andrew McHugh, said the exercise will help to “deepen relationships and strengthen engagement with the USAF’s Pacific Air Force and the Koku-Jieitai to contribute to our shared vision of an open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific.”

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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