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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as Australia pushes for a “seat at the table” of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Summit this week.
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This is Prime Minister Albanese’s second appearance at the international event and it’s expected he will be pushing for closer ties to Europe during the 2023 NATO summit run over 11 and 12 July in Vilnius, Lithuania.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasised the importance of a partnership between NATO and Australia.
“Security is not regional, security is global. What happens in the Indo-Pacific matters for Europe, for NATO. And what happens in Europe, matters for the Indo-Pacific,” he said.
“This is demonstrated by the ongoing war in Ukraine which has global ramifications. We are extremely grateful for Australia’s strong support to Ukraine, your military support, your economic support, it really makes a difference every day and it’s important also for our security.”
NATO and Australia have pledged to work together on cyber, new technologies, and countering hybrid threats.
Australia expressed support to Ukraine following an additional $110 million assistance package released in June, as well as the recent announcement of reconnaissance aircraft to be based in Germany with 100 Australian Defence Force personnel.
Australian trade diplomats failed to resolve five years of negotiations for an Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement reportedly worth almost $100 billion. Officials are fighting for beef, lamb, sugar, cheese, and rice exports into the European market, while NATO countries are seeking to diversify sources of raw materials.
“We’ve had successful meetings with NATO leaders, and of course, their partners. This summit meets in the context of Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine,” Prime Minister Albanese said.
“The ongoing trauma that has caused the people of Ukraine is the most important issue. But it also had an impact on the global economy, an impact that has reminded us that we’re not immune from international events that in today’s interconnected world, Australia must be engaged.
“We must be a shaper of the future rather than just accepting it, which is why we’re engaged here by participating at the NATO Summit, including with the Indo-Pacific Four meeting … and then I will address the full NATO members as well as having a meeting with President Zelenskyy.”
Prime Minister Albanese said AUKUS, the technology transfer between the United States and Australia, the upcoming Australian American Leadership Dialogue, and international agreements were also discussed.
“I met with Mette Frederiksen, the Prime Minister of Denmark, where I signed a strategic partnership agreement,” he said.
“Antonio Costa, the Prime Minister of Portugal as well, we had our first bilateral meeting. That was very productive as well. Portugal has been a strong supporter of the Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement.
“I met with President Macron of France. We had a lengthy meeting about the range of issues confronting us, including follow up to the ‘two and two’ meeting that was held with our foreign and defence ministers in recent months, the progress towards greater cooperation between Australia and France.
“I also raised … the issue of the Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement and put to him Australia’s case, which is we want a better deal than what’s currently offered on beef, and on sheep meat. And we’ll continue to argue the case for a free trade agreement in the interests of both Australia and Europe.
“I had a meeting with Rishi Sunak, where we talked about the implementation of the trade agreement which is an example of where you can get benefit, and we are seeing benefit already from the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement that was finalised.
“This is an important forum for Australia to be represented. I’ve had an informal discussion with Mark Rutte of the Netherlands and a range of other leaders today in the leaders’ lounge that is established to encourage that dialogue.
“Our nations based in the Indo-Pacific, believe in the rule of law, that we support national sovereignty, that we support multilateral forums.
“Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and Australia have been invited now to our second summit, to engage and then to engage with NATO members. What happens in one part of the world has an impact in our part of the world … and the best way to be engaged for Australia is to have a seat at the table and to have a say.”
