Australia and Germany pledge closer military exercises, defence industry ties after Berlin meeting

The ministers discussed the deteriorating international security environment, facilitating the movement of defence personnel and equipment through respective territories and formal commencement of negotiations under a status of forces agreement reaching in-principle agreement of the text by the end of this year.

They also agreed to continue exploring opportunities for enhanced cooperation in space and bolstering of defence industrial bases.

Ministers discussed the importance of cooperating on countering cyber and hybrid threats as well as foreign information manipulation and interference.

“The Australian–German defence relationship is really an inflection point. We acknowledge and welcome Germany’s increased defence spending, its increased defence capability. And as we are working increasingly more closely with Europe, we very much acknowledge Germany’s role in playing a part in the leadership of European NATO,” Minister Marles said, speaking to the media in Berlin on 8 June.

“Australia and Germany are exercising and operating more than we have at any point in our history. Germany has participated in our most significant exercise, Talisman Sabre in 2023 and 2025, an increasing number. Germany has participated in our major maritime Exercise Kakadu, and at the end of next month, Germany will be sending a squadron of Eurofighters to participate in Exercise Pitch Black in the Northern Territory. And so across every domain, land, sea and air, but also in cyber and space, our defence forces are working increasingly together.

“We are seeing a much greater degree of cooperation in terms of our defence industry, TKMS, Lurssen, Rheinmetall have all contributed to the capabilities of the Australian Defence Force. Just in the last week, HMAS Eyre, an offshore patrol vessel built by Lurssen was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy. Rheinmetall’s facility in Brisbane is building combat reconnaissance vehicles for the Australian Army but is building 100 combat reconnaissance vehicles for the German Army as well. We have recently just invested in a new purchase of 155 millimetre rounds from Rheinmetall’s Joint Venture Facility at Maryborough in Queensland. And we are really excited about the opportunities for our two defence industrial bases to work increasingly closely together going forward.”

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The meeting discussed common security and regional challenges, closer bilateral cooperation to promote the rules-based international order, call for increased pressure on Russia and calls to cease direct and indirect support to Russia’s military.

Both groups of officials condemned Iran’s attacks in the Middle East and around the Strait of Hormuz, they reiterated their support for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict and urged Iran to immediately and unconditionally restore free, safe and toll-free passage through the strait, based on international law.

Regarding the UN80 Initiative, Australia and Germany will work together and with partners, as well as with the United Nations and its agencies, in driving forward reform to build a more effective and efficient UN.

They also reiterated their strong commitment to the multilateral economic and trading system, including the World Trade Organization and the G20.

Robert Dougherty

Robert is a senior journalist who has previously worked for Seven West Media in Western Australia, as well as Fairfax Media and Australian Community Media in New South Wales. He has produced national headlines, photography and videography of emergency services, business, community, defence and government news across Australia. Robert graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in Public Relations and Journalism at Curtin University, attended student exchange program with Fudan University and holds Tier 1 General Advice certification for Kaplan Professional. Reach out via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via LinkedIn.