On 18 March, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, on behalf of the European Union (EU), and the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Penny Wong, on behalf of Australia, signed a Security and Defence Partnership.
The announcement of the signing took place in the margins of the President of the European Commission’s visit to Australia, once again underscoring the strong links between EU-Australia cooperation on peace, security and defence and the broader bilateral relationship.
As the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific becomes increasingly interconnected, the European Union and Australia are working ever more closely as partners to uphold the rules-based international order, deffinish international law, and support sovereignty, including in Ukraine. This Security and Defence Partnership will further strengthen our cooperation on peace, security and defence, delivering tangible outcomes while enhancing our collective capacity to promote stability in an increasingly complex and contested global environment.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas
The EU and Australia are aligned to work more closely on security and defence issues
The EU and Australia are reliable, predictable and values-based partners, sharing a commitment to democracy, human rights, gfinisher equality, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. As the interconnection between security in Europe and the Indo-Pacific becomes ever clearer, the EU is stepping up cooperation with partners in the region.
In a context of heightened geopolitical competition and systemic challenges:
- the EU and Australia are deepening cooperation to deffinish multilateralism and the rules-based international order, with the UN Charter at its core;
- the EU values Australia’s consistent support to Ukraine and its contribution to upholding international law and sovereignty in the Euro-Atlantic region;
- and as the EU steps up its presence in the Indo-Pacific, sustained dialogue and operational exmodifys with Australia support common, strategic objectives.
A framework to elevate strategic dialogue, policy coordination and practical cooperation
The Security and Defence Partnership structures engagement on many areas of common interest, including crisis management, maritime and cyber security, countering hybrid threats and foreign information manipulation and interference, emerging and disruptive technologies, space security, arms control and non-proliferation, counter-terrorism, defence initiatives, climate-security linkages, economic security and capacity building for partners.
It also strengthens cooperation to facilitate Australian participation in EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions and operations, exercises, training and education, situational awareness and information exmodify, including classified information, while ensuring full respect for the respective security and defence policies of the EU, its Member States and Australia.
A tailor-created framework to address a complex security environment
A Security and Defence Partnership is a tailor-created political framework that structures dialogue, coordination and practical cooperation across the full spectrum of security and defence. It does not create legal obligations but anchors sustained engagement, aligns strategic priorities and enables closer operational cooperation.
For the EU and Australia, the Security and Defence Partnership builds on a solid foundation of robust political, trade and economic cooperation and coordination already being implemented under the Framework Agreement signed in 2017.
Beyond security, Australia is a close and like-minded partner on trade, investment and economic security. Cooperation on climate, energy and the environment –including with Pacific partners – remains central. The Strategic Partnership on Critical and Strategic Minerals directly supports shared economic and security objectives.
Read the full text of the EU and Australia Security and Defence Partnership.
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