The Week in Australian Foreign Affairs

Catch up on the latest events in Australian foreign affairs with our weekly digest

06 Jun 2025
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Marles addresses the Shangri-La Dialogue; Marles meets with counterparts from Japan, US, and Philippines
30 May 2025
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Marles to attend Shangri-La Dialogue; new assistant minister for foreign affairs; Thistlethwaite responds to
16 May 2025
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese in Jakarta; Albanese to visit Vatican City and Singapore; new investment in Indonesia;
09 May 2025
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirms early outreach to key international partners, including US President
18 Apr 2025
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Foreign Minister Penny Wong demands full investigation into wounding of Australian citizen in West
11 Apr 2025
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Australian assistance team heads to Myanmar; calls for an independent inquiry into the deaths
28 Mar 2025
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Wong announces new safety push to protect young Australians; additional humanitarian support for Gaza,
21 Mar 2025
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Australia seeks urgent clarification from U.S. over research funding freeze and foreign interference concerns,
14 Mar 2025
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Julie Bishop faces calls for a U.N. investigation over alleged conflicts of interest linked
07 Mar 2025
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese reaffirms Australia’s support for Ukraine; Farrel appoints Paul Grimes as CEO of Austrade;
28 Feb 2025
This week in Australian foreign Affairs: Australia reaffirmed support for Ukraine on the war’s third anniversary, imposing new sanctions on
21 Feb 2025
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Aus-PNG defence treaty announced; Wong appoints multiple senior foreign postings; Marles comments on Chinese
14 Feb 2025
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Marles visits new US Defense Secretary Hegseth in Washington D.C.; Wong announces new sanctions
07 Feb 2025
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Marles visits new US Defense Secretary Hegseth in Washington D.C.; Wong announces new sanctions
31 Jan 2025
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese and Wong commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day; Marles talks to new US Secretary
24 Jan 2025
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Marles in Kiribati and Solomon Islands; Wong in Washington D.C. for Trump inauguration; joint
17 Jan 2025
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese and Wong welcome ceasefire agreement in Gaza; Marles to visit to Kiribati and
20 Dec 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Marles and Wong in UK for 14th Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN); aid for search
13 Dec 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese and President of the Republic of Nauru David Adeang sign Nauru–Australia Treaty; Australia-Papua
06 Dec 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Marles, Wong, and Farrell in Singapore for the Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee; Marles and
29 Nov 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese meets with President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel; a new agreement to
22 Nov 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese in Brazil the G20; Albanese attends Australia-China third bilateral summit; second Australia-India Annual
15 Nov 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese in Peru for APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and Brazil for the G20 Leaders’
08 Nov 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: new support for Ukraine; new appointments for the boards of the National Foundation for
01 Nov 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: new cooperation between Australia and the UK on climate and energy; first deployment of
25 Oct 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese welcomed King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Australia; Albanese attends 2024 Commonwealth
18 Oct 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese reaffirms Australia’s commitment to ASEAN centrality; Abrams tanks to be sent to Ukraine;
11 Oct 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese in Laos for ASEAN-Australia and East Asia summits; Australia-Canada-New Zealand trilateral meeting; Australia-China
04 Oct 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Marles in New Zealand for South Pacific Defence Ministers' Meeting; new financial and cyber
27 Sep 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese in the United States for the 2024 Quad Leaders’ Summit; the Quad Cancer
20 Sep 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese to travel to the United States for the 2024 Quad Leaders’ Summit; joint
13 Sep 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Wong announces $3 million for humanitarian relief for Vietnam in the wake of Typhoon
06 Sep 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Marles in Timor-Leste to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Popular Consultation independence referendum;
30 Aug 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese in Tonga for 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting; Pacific Policing Initiative announced;
23 Aug 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: President-Elect of Indonesia Prabowo in Australia; Joint ministerial statement on Australia-Indonesia Defence cooperations; Solomons
16 Aug 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: New Zealand PM Luxon in Australia; Marles announces new agreements with AUKUS; Adelaide to
09 Aug 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Marles and Wong in Annapolis for AUSMIN 2024 talks; Marles travels to Canada for
02 Aug 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese Joins PMs from Canada and New Zealand in statement on Gaza; Wong launches
26 Jul 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Marles and Keough attend the Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference in Western Australia;
19 Jul 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: King Charles announces plan to visit Australia; Albanese responds to attempt on Donald Trump's
12 Jul 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo in Australia for talks; Marles in Washington D.C. for
05 Jul 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Australian Government announces new partnership with Amazon Web Services; Marles to attend NATO Summit
28 Jun 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Australia hosts bilateral talks with Solomon Islands' Jeremiah Manele; Julian Assange returns to Australia;
21 Jun 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: China’s Premier Li visits Australia; ministers in Papua New Guinea for 30th Australia-Papua New
14 Jun 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: China's Premier Li to visit Australia; new investment for Women's Asian Cup; additional humanitarian
07 Jun 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Marles addresses Shangri-La dialogue; non-Australian citizens can now join the Australian Defence Force; Wong
31 May 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: humanitarian assistance for PNG Landslide; new energy and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine; Wong issues
24 May 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Marles meets new prime minister of Solomon Islands; Wong in Bangladesh for ministerial meetings;
17 May 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Government budget supports increased funds for foreign policy; further sanctions against Iranian senior officials;
10 May 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese addresses Chinese jet manoeuvers; Sanctions against Russian cyber criminal Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev; new
03 May 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Australia-ROK 2+2 talks; Marles announces $100m new military assistance for Ukraine; Marles to travel
26 Apr 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese joins PNG PM Marape on the Kokoda Trail for ANZAC Day; Marles in
19 Apr 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: new support for Solomon Islands elections; Wong discusses potential momentum on Assange case; PALM
12 Apr 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Japan considered for AUKUS Pillar II; the Australia-Japan-Philippines-United States Maritime Cooperative Activity; special adviser
05 Apr 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: China removes sanctions on Australian wine; Australia to produce military vehicles for Germany; statement
28 Mar 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: new implications for AUKUS in Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act 2024; Marles responds to
22 Mar 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Chinese FM Wang Yi in Canberra for Foreign and Strategic Dialogue; funding to UNRWA
15 Mar 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese addresses US TikTok ban; new AUKUS Sub concerns for Australian defence; new ambassadors
08 Mar 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: ASEAN-Australia Special Summit; Australia and Vietnam announce comprehensive strategic partnership; new investment platforms for
01 Mar 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Philippine's President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr first official visit to Australia; statement on death
23 Feb 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: comments on Julian Assange and Dr Yang Hengjun; Marles to travel to Jakarta for
16 Feb 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: PM joint statement on Israel's ground offensive in Rafah; new support for Ukraine; Australia
09 Feb 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Papua New Guinea (PNG)-Australia Annual Leaders’ Dialogue; China hands death sentence to Yang Hengjun;
02 Feb 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: ANZMIN ministerial consultations; new sanctions announced for Myanmar entities; new aid for Timor-Leste, and
25 Jan 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: new ambassadors appointed to ASEAN and WTO, cyber sanction powers in use, further sanctions
19 Jan 2024
This week in Australian foreign affairs: joint statement on Houthi attacks, Wong in Jordan, Israel, and Occupied Palestinian Territories, humanitarian
12 Jan 2024
This month in Australian foreign affairs: 2023 Lowy Lecture, NZ PM Luxon visits, statement on Houthi attacks, earthquake in Japan,
15 Dec 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: joint statement with Canada and New Zealand supporting ceasefire in Israel-Hamas conflict, Russian cyber
08 Dec 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Marape visits Albanese in Canberra, Marles attends AUKUS meeting with counterparts in California, Colonna
01 Dec 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Strategic Partnership with the Philippines; upcoming second AUKUS Defence Ministers’ Meeting; $12 million for
24 Nov 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese at APEC Summit and addresses G20 Virtual Summit, new sanctions to target Hamas
16 Nov 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese at PIF, Falepili Union with Tuvalu announced, Albanese attends APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting,
10 Nov 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese’s official visit to China; Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting; Wong in Japan; and
03 Nov 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese addresses US State Department, Marles travels to US and UK, support for Vanuatu
27 Oct 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese travels to DC, meets with Biden, and opens new Australian Embassy; Albanese to
20 Oct 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Fijian PM visits, Lithuanian President in Canberra, Marles in Korea and Japan for Defence
13 Oct 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese, Marles and Wong on Hamas attack on Israel; Cheng Lei returns to Australia;
06 Oct 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: diplomatic appointments announced to lead Australia’s posts in Bali, China, Colombia, Estonia, Hong Kong,
29 Sep 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Wong delivers Australia’s national statement to UNGA, punitive tariffs on
22 Sep 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: second anniversary of AUKUS announcement, Wong in New York for 78th session of the
15 Sep 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese attends G20, ASEAN-Australia Summit and East Asia Summit; Philippines relationship elevated to Strategic
08 Sep 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 announced, Albanese meets with Chinese Premier Li Qiang
01 Sep 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese and Marles on US Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey crash; Marles meets with Philippines
25 Aug 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese addresses ALP National Conference on AUKUS, Marles in Malaysia and the Philippines, Ukraine
18 Aug 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese off to Indonesia, the Philippines, and India next month; Pacific Rugby League Championships
11 Aug 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese announces visit to Washington DC, resolution of barley dispute with China, new International
04 Aug 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: 33rd AUSMIN, Exercise Talisman Sabre, 70th anniversary of Korean War Armistice, and more. Deputy
28 Jul 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese visits Hipkins in Wellington, Talisman Sabre 2023, USS Canberra commissioned in Sydney, more
21 Jul 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese off to Wellington to meet with Hipkins, AUSMIN next week in Brisbane, Wong
14 Jul 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: 30 additional Bushmasters for Ukraine, Albanese travels to Berlin to meet with Scholz and
07 Jul 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Widodo visits Sydney, Albanese addresses Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce, Wong and Canadian and UK
30 Jun 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: $110 million assistance package for Ukraine, Albanese to host Widodo in Sydney next week,
23 Jun 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei visits Canberra; Australia-Brunei partnership elevated to Comprehensive Partnership;
16 Jun 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Russia's embassy lease cancelled, Albanese meets with PIF SG, Joint Declaration Against Trade-Related Economic
09 Jun 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese gives keynote address at Shangri-La Dialogue and also visits Vietnam, Trilateral Defense Ministerial
02 Jun 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese travels to Singapore to deliver keynote address at Shangri-La Dialogue, Marles attends inaugural
26 May 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese attends the G7 and Quad Summits in Hiroshima; Modi travels to Australia; more
19 May 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Quad Leaders’ Meeting in Sydney cancelled, Marles addresses American Chamber of Commerce, Wong travels
12 May 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: UK FTA entry into force date announced; $19 billion in response to the Defence
05 May 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: tribute to Allan Gyngell AO FAIIA, Albanese travels to UK, 13th Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial
28 Apr 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Defence Strategic Review released; 2023 Quad Summit to be held in Sydney; Conroy attends
21 Apr 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: NZ PM Hipkins to visit Australia next week; Wong’s Press Club address; Wong travels
14 Apr 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: agreement reached with China over barley dispute and WTO dispute paused; concern about escalating
07 Apr 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Wong’s statement on Cheng Lei, Marles travels to New Zealand, ASPI Sydney Dialogue addresses
31 Mar 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Royal Assent given to Aus-UK FTA in UK, 40th anniversary of CER with NZ,
24 Mar 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Samoa PM Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa visits Australia, Wong announces more sanctions against Iranian individuals
17 Mar 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: SSN-AUKUS announcement, Albanese attends Australia-India Annual Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, Don Farrell meets
10 Mar 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese travels to India, Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Wong meets with her Chinese counterpart
03 Mar 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: more support for Ukraine, one year on from Russia’s invasion; Cyber Security Roundtable; Judge
24 Feb 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese’s Press Club address, Wong co-chairs Australia-PNG Ministerial Forum in Canberra, new Pacific Engagement
17 Feb 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Vanuatu PM visits Australia, Defence Strategic Review report received by Albanese and Marles, 8th
10 Feb 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese welcomes NZ PM Hipkins to Canberra, Timor-Leste PM visiting, PALM Scheme reaches major
03 Feb 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: new NZ PM Hipkins to visit Australia, Albanese to deliver keynote address at Shangri-La
26 Jan 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Wong acknowledges fourth year of Dr Yang Jun’s detention; 50th anniversary of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
20 Jan 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese and Marape hold 4th PNG-Australia Annual Leaders’ Dialogue in Port Moresby; Ayres travels
13 Jan 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese travels to PNG for Annual Leaders’ Dialogue; Marles and Conroy announce $1 billion
06 Jan 2023
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese’s comments on China at the Woodford Folk Festival and the COVID-19 testing requirements
30 Dec 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Australia-India Economic Cooperation Trade Agreement enters into force, and Marles’ comments at the Biennial
23 Dec 2022
This fortnight in Australian foreign affairs: Wong travels to Beijing to meet with Wang Yi, Kevin Rudd appointed to Washington,
09 Dec 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese welcomes Finnish PM Sanna Marin to Sydney; Marles and Wong travel to the
02 Dec 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese meets with Vietnamese President Vuong Dinh Hue; Indian Government completes domestic requirements for
25 Nov 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese attends APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting; four new diplomatic postings announced; Wong confirms Professor
18 Nov 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese attends the G20 and ASEAN-Australia Summit; Wong delivers Whitlam Oration; Conroy on COP27;
11 Nov 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese to travel to Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand to attend East Asia, ASEAN, G20
03 Nov 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: additional support for Ukraine, Wong visits Brunei and Thailand, Australia joins ASAT test ban,
27 Oct 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese and Kishida meet in Perth and issue renewed Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation
21 Oct 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese hosts Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong in Canberra and announces the Green Economy
13 Oct 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese welcomes Sogavare to Canberra, Bali Bombings 20th anniversary commemoration events, Wong travels to Marshall
06 Oct 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese hosts Sogavare in Canberra, Wong condemns North Korea’s missile launch over Japan, rejection
29 Sep 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese attends Abe’s funeral, AUKUS leaders reflect on the one-year anniversary of the partnership,
23 Sep 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese meets with Truss and Trudeau, Wong leads the Australian delegation to the UN,
16 Sep 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese to travel to UK for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and Japan for Abe
09 Sep 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Defence Cooperation Agreement signed with Timor-Leste; Wong on Xinjiang; Judge Charlesworth’s ICJ bid supported;
02 Sep 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Wong’s visit to PNG and Timor-Leste; statement on Russia’s obstruction of NPT Review Conference;
25 Aug 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Wong and Conroy announce additional support for Sri Lanka, Australia-Pacific Cricket Linkages Program, Watts’
19 Aug 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Wong’s statement on Cheng Lei, Australia-India Council grant recipients announced, DFAT designates gold as
12 Aug 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Wong addresses ASEAN-Australia Ministerial Meeting; Wong meets with Blinken and Yoshimasa in Phnom Penh;
05 Aug 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Defence Strategic Review announced; Wong to travel to Cambodia for the ASEAN-Australia Foreign Ministers’
29 Jul 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Wong’s statement on Myanmar, Australia co-hosts the 2022 Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense conference in
22 Jul 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese and Bainimarama launch the Maritime Essential Services Centre in Fiji, 1 million Foot
15 Jul 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese and the Quad on Shinzo Abe’s death, the Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting, the
08 Jul 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese meets with Zelenskyy in Kyiv and announces additional assistance for Ukraine, Ardern to
01 Jul 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese attends NATO Leaders’ Summit Meeting and will meet with Macron in Paris, Wong
24 Jun 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese announces new DFAT Secretary Jan Adams, Wong meets with Mahuta in Wellington, Wong
17 Jun 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese meets with Ardern, Australia reaches a settlement with French Naval Group following the
10 Jun 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese travels to Jakarta for the Annual Leaders’ Meeting with Widodo; Ardern to visit
03 Jun 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese’s full Ministry sworn in; Wong addresses the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat in Fiji
20 May 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: passing of PNG Deputy PM Sam Basil, further sanctions on Russian and Belarusian entities
13 May 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: attribution of malicious cyber activity to Russia, DFAT officials speak with their Chinese counterparts
06 May 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: additional sanctions against Russia, Payne’s address to the US Studies Centre, and Payne’s joint
22 Apr 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Payne and Seselja on Solomon Islands and China’s security cooperation agreement, additional sanctions on
08 Apr 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: AUKUS statement, more military support to Ukraine, additional sanctions on Russia, Payne in Brussels,
01 Apr 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Alliance at 70 dinner, 2022-23 Budget, further sanctions on Russia and Belarus, and more.
25 Mar 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: additional sanctions on Russia, further support for Ukraine, diplomatic announcements, Australia’s Defence Space Command,
18 Mar 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: legal proceedings initiated against Russia for the downing of MH17, ADF set to increase
11 Mar 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Morrison’s Lowy address, Quad Leaders’ Meeting, more sanctions on Russia, and more. On 7
04 Mar 2022
This week in Australian foreign affairs: statements on Ukraine, funding for Australia’s space sector, Australia to host the Indo-Pacific Clean