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Minister for Defence Marise Payne will attend the Resolute Support session of the NATO Defence Ministers Meeting in Brussels this week.
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Minister Payne will discuss the progress of the NATO-led mission and affirm Australia's continued commitment to Afghanistan.
The Australian government recently announced an increase in its contribution to the Resolute Support training mission, in order to help Afghan forces secure their country and fight global terrorism.
"The Australian government agreed to enhance our contribution to the Resolute Support mission by increasing the number of Australian Defence Force personnel deployed in Afghanistan from around 270 to around 300," Minister Payne said.
"Afghanistan is facing a challenging security environment and this extra support will assist in efforts to deny terrorists the safe havens that threaten the international community."
Minister Payne will also meet with NATO counterparts to discuss key issues of mutual strategic interest, including Australia’s commitment to the global fight against terrorism.
Minister Payne's meeting comes just days after Attorney-General George Brandis and Immigration Minister Peter Dutton travelled to Ottawa for meetings with Five Eyes counterparts, where cyber terrorism was a hot topic of conversation.
Brandis and Minister Dutton attended the Five Country Ministerial on national security. Brandis also attend the Quintet meeting of Attorneys-General.
"As the Prime Minister said ... the use by terrorists of cyber space is an issue of critical concern to intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Australia will lead the discussion of ways to address this issue; in particular the involvement of industry in thwarting the encryption of terrorist messaging," Brandis said.
"We all share the global challenges of terrorism, foreign fighters and protecting our borders."
