This week in Australian foreign affairs: new support for Ukraine; new appointments for the boards of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations and the Australia-Japan Foundation; Indian foreign minister in Canberra for the 15th Australia-India Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue, and more.

On 5 November, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence  Richard Marles announced that Australia would gift 14 rigid hull boats to Ukraine, a move that reinforces its “ongoing commitment to support Ukraine in its defence against Russia’s illegal invasion.” This latest military aid, valued at $14 million, is aimed at enhancing Ukraine’s maritime and coastal defence, described as “an important operational domain for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.” The new Australian Defence Force sea boats are expected to deliver “a fast and highly manoeuvrable maritime capability” to bolster Ukraine’s efforts. This support builds on earlier contributions, including Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boats announced by the Deputy Prime Minister during a visit to Ukraine earlier this year. Since the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Australia has extended more than $1.3 billion in military support and over $1.5 billion in overall assistance to Ukraine.

On 2 November, Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong announced new appointments for the boards of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations and the Australia-Japan Foundation. Mark McGowan has joined the Advisory Board of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, bringing extensive experience from his tenure as Premier of Western Australia and background as a legal officer in the Royal Australian Navy. The Foundation’s Advisory Board promotes and coordinates cooperation between Australia and China, focusing on strengthening risk-informed engagement with China and reinforcing social cohesion through partnerships with Chinese-Australian communities. For the Australia-Japan Foundation, Professor Shiro Armstrong, Director of the Australia-Japan Research Centre, will join the Board in February 2025. Reappointments include Professor Caroline McMillen AO FAHMS, a former Chief Scientist for South Australia, and Ms. Yuki Nakamura, Executive Director of Nakamura Chocolates, both serving a second three-year term from October 2024. Appreciation was extended to Mr. Adam Liaw for his six years of service, including his role as acting Chair in 2024, as he concludes his term in February 2025. The Australia-Japan Foundation, Australia’s oldest cultural council, underpins the Special Strategic Partnership with Japan, supporting Australia’s foreign and trade policy interests through collaborations in economic security, the arts, education, science, technology, and sport.

Also on 5 November, Wong announced that Australia’s Foreign Minister will host India’s Minister for External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar, in Canberra for the 15th Australia-India Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue. The meeting underscores the strong strategic, economic, and community ties between the two nations, with nearly one million Australians tracing their heritage to India. Both countries share a vision for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. As 2025 approaches—the fifth year of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership—the dialogue offers a platform to assess progress and outline future priorities. Discussions will focus on advancing cooperation in science and technology, clean energy, trade and investment, and enhancing defence and maritime security ties. Recognizing India’s status as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, and potentially the third largest by decade’s end, Australia views India as a vital partner for diversifying trade and securing supply chains. Both ministers will also attend “Raisina Down Under,” an extension of India’s Raisina Dialogue, providing a forum to share perspectives on regional trends. This will mark the 19th meeting between the two ministers as they continue to strengthen the Australia–India relationship.

Wong also announced the inaugural Advisory Board for the ASEAN-Australia Centre on 5 November, an initiative launched by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit. The Centre, replacing the Australia-ASEAN Council, aims to strengthen people-to-people links, enhance collaboration with national cultural institutions, support emerging leaders, and drive business engagement. It will also deepen Australia’s trade and investment connections under Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. The appointed board members are Ms. Louise Adams (Aurecon), Professor Nicholas Farrelly (University of Tasmania), Professor Sango Mahanty (Australian National University), Ms. Audra Morrice (chef, author, and television presenter), Mr. Tarun Nagesh (Queensland Art Gallery), Ms. Su-Lin Ong (RBC Capital Markets), Professor Sharon Pickering (Monash University), Ms. Kate Russell (Supply Nation), Ms. Hayley Winchcombe (Mandala), Mr. John Hopkins (Export Finance Australia, ex officio), and Ms. Michelle Chan (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, ex officio).

On 5 November, Wong joined foreign ministers from New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, and the EU High Representative, to issue a joint statement condemning the deployment of DPRK troops to Russia, potentially to support its war in Ukraine. Thousands of DPRK troops have reportedly been sent, marking a dangerous escalation with serious implications for European and Indo-Pacific security. The ministers condemned the growing military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia, including the transfer and use of DPRK ballistic missiles against Ukraine, which violates multiple UN Security Council resolutions. They urged the DPRK to halt support for Russia’s aggression and reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, promising a coordinated international response to this development.

On 3 November, Minister for Trade and Tourism and Special Minister of State Don Farrell announced he will travel to Shanghai to lead the nation’s delegation at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) at the invitation of China’s Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao. The CIIE provides “an important platform for Australian businesses to showcase their world-class goods and services to our largest export market.” Since last year’s expo, significant progress has been made in Australian trade with China, including the removal of tariffs on Australian wine, the lifting of suspensions on eight red meat facilities, and a timetable set for resuming live rock lobster exports by year’s end. “Nearly $20 billion worth of trade impediments on Australian exports to China have been removed,” highlighting the Albanese Government’s “deliberate, careful and calibrated approach” to improving trade relations.

Farrell announced on 6 November that Australia and the UAE signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, enhancing trade with tariff eliminations on over 99 percent of Australian exports and potential boosts of $678 million annually. Signed in Canberra with UAE’s Minister Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the agreement grants Australian businesses preferential access across sectors, from agriculture to services, and includes environmental and anti-corruption commitments. Unique provisions for First Nations trade and women’s economic empowerment further expand commercial opportunities. With two-way trade at $9.9 billion in 2023, the agreement strengthens Australia-UAE ties, supporting growth and regulatory clarity for Australian exporters.

Dr Adam Bartley is the managing editor for AIIA’s Australian Outlook and weekly columnist for The Week in Australian Foreign Affairs. He is a former Fulbright Scholar and non-resident fellow at the Elliot School for International Affairs, the George Washington University. Adam also has positions as post-doctoral fellow at the Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation RMIT University  and as program manager of the AI Trilateral Experts Group. He can be found on Twitter here.

This article is published under a Creative Commons License and may be republished with attribution.