Statements

Three years on, Australia stands with Ukraine

Today marks three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.  For three years, Ukraine has bravely resisted Russia’s illegal and immoral war of aggression.  Australia mourns the loss of life of Ukraine’s citizens and defenders, and the generational toll of Russia’s brutality.…

Joint Statement: Australia-Papua New Guinea Defence Ministers' Meeting

On 20 February, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles hosted Minister for Defence Dr Billy Joseph for the 2025 Australia-Papua New Guinea Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Brisbane.  The two Ministers reaffirmed the defence relationship as a key pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic and…

Statement on Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN)

On 16 December 2024, the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs the Rt Hon David Lammy MP and the Secretary of State for Defence the Rt Hon John Healey MP hosted the Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator the Hon Penny Wong and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for…

Joint Statement - 4th Malaysia-Australia High Level Committee on Defence Cooperation

The Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, the Honourable Richard Marles, welcomed the Malaysian Minister of Defence, the Honourable Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin, to Melbourne for the 4th Malaysia-Australia High Level Committee on Defence Cooperation on 10 December 2024.…

Malaysia - Australia joint intention on information sharing

Malaysia and Australia share a strong and long-standing defence partnership, based on history, trust, and mutual respect. We also share an interest in maintaining the peace and stability of the region, where ASEAN is central to its security architecture and international law is respected. Both…

Australia - New Zealand Joint Statement on Closer Defence Relations

The alliance between Australia and New Zealand remains closer than ever, tightly bound by our shared history, deep people-to-people links, and common values. Our security partnership was founded in the days of the first ANZACs, with this spirit continuing to enliven our modern alliance. The formal…

Joint statement on Australia-New Zealand Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations (ANZMIN)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Rt Hon Winston Peters MP and Minister of Defence Hon Judith Collins KC MP hosted Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence the Hon Richard Marles MP and Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator the Hon Penny Wong on 6 December in…

Joint Statement on Canada-Australia Partnership on Emerging Missile Defence Research

Halifax, Nova Scotia – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence of Canada, and the Honourable Richard Marles, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence of Australia, released a joint statement on a new agreement to collaborate on…

Defence Partnership for the Future Statement

On 6 March 2024 the leaders of ASEAN and Australia adopted the ASEAN-Australia Vision Statement and the Melbourne Declaration, marking 50 years of ASEAN-Australia Dialogue Relations. To bolster peace and security in our region and address common security challenges, leaders committed to…

Australia-Japan-Philippines-Republic of Korea-United States Defence Ministers' Meeting joint statement

Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy, Japanese Minister of Defense Nakatani Gen, Philippines Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro, Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III met together for the first time on…

Australia-Japan-United States Trilateral Defence Ministers’ Meeting November 2024 Joint Statement

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, Japanese Minister of Defense Nakatani Gen, and United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III convened the fourteenth Trilateral Defence Ministers’ Meeting (TDMM) on 17 November 2024 in Darwin, Australia.  Through…

Australia-Philippines Defence Ministers' Meeting November 2024 Joint Statement

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C Teodoro Jr held the inaugural Australia-Philippines Defence Ministers’ Meeting on 12 November 2024 in Canberra, Australia. The principals underscored their commitment to deepening political…