The Governments of the United States of America and Australia have released the following statement on the occasion of the 32nd Annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN).
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III hosted Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of Defense Richard Marles on December 6 in Washington, D.C., to advance cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and globally. Building on the November 2022 meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister Albanese, the Secretaries and Ministers (Principal) noted that the US-Australia alliance and partnership has never been stronger or more vital to regional peace and prosperity. The leaders pledged to advance a stable, rules-based international order in which differences are resolved peacefully and without coercion, and in which states cooperate transparently in solving common challenges. They further pledged to deepen cooperation to strengthen and reform the multilateral system and encourage collective action to address the climate crisis; protect and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy and gender equality; and advance the rules of the road for technology, cyberspace, trade and commerce. The principals also decided to develop their defense and security cooperation to ensure that they are equipped to deter aggression, counter coercion and create space for sovereign decision-making.
The Chiefs pledged to deepen cooperation, bilaterally and with regional partners and institutions, to ensure an Indo-Pacific region that is free, open, stable, peaceful, progressive and respects sovereignty. The directors confirmed that regional growth and stability rest on international law that serves the interests of all nations. They pledged to strengthen their engagement with Indo-Pacific countries to promote economic development, climate change cooperation, security, connectivity, good governance, disaster management, health and resilience in line with regional and national priorities. The Directors further committed to establishing regular meetings between Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific and the Administrator of the US Agency for International Development to support closer development cooperation throughout the Indo-Pacific region and globally.
The four leaders emphasized the importance of all states being able to exercise rights and freedoms in accordance with international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including freedom of navigation and overflight. They reiterated their strong opposition to destabilizing actions in the South China Sea, such as the militarization of disputed features and dangerous encounters at sea and in the air. They also expressed concern about other actions by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including its making of excessive maritime claims that are inconsistent with international law. They decided to work with partners to support regional maritime security and respect international law.
The leaders reiterated Taiwan’s role as a leading democracy in the Indo-Pacific region, an important regional economy and a key contributor to critical supply chains. They also reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and their joint opposition to unilateral changes to the status quo. They further pledged to work together to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations and strengthen economic, social and people-to-people ties with Taiwan, and affirmed that they would continue to work with Taiwan to improve development coordination in the Pacific.
The four majors emphasized the importance of responsible management of strategic competition in all countries and a commitment to working together to ensure that competition does not escalate into conflict. The United States and Australia expect the PRC to do the same and plan to engage Beijing in risk reduction and transparency measures. The leaders encouraged the PRC to take steps to promote stability and transparency in the area of nuclear weapons. They also reaffirmed the importance of cooperation with the People’s Republic of China on issues of mutual interest, including climate change, pandemic threats, non-proliferation, the fight against illicit and illegal narcotics, the global food crisis and macroeconomic issues. The chiefs pledged to improve deterrence and resilience through coordinated efforts to offer support to Indo-Pacific nations to resist subversion and coercion of any kind.
Directors redoubled their commitment to work with the Pacific Islands in support of the goals of the Pacific Islands Forum Strategy 2050 for the Blue Pacific Continent, guided by the Pacific priorities of climate change, resilient infrastructure, maritime security and supported by Pacific regional institutions that have served the region well over the years. Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to encourage their partners to increase engagement in support of Pacific priorities. This includes the further development of the recently established Partners in the Blue Pacific (PBP) initiative, which is led and directed by the Pacific Islands through close consultation on their priorities and initiatives, including through the Pacific Islands Forum. Australia and the United States are co-funding an initiative to strengthen the capacity of Pacific islands to prepare for and respond to devastating disasters, in support of the goals outlined at the first Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction Ministerial Meeting in September 2022.
The Directors committed to strengthening coordination to achieve Pacific priorities, including through our diplomatic missions. With the recent re-opening of borders in the Pacific Islands, Directors discussed supporting the entry or re-entry of US Peace Corps Volunteers to the Pacific and a proposal to expand cooperation between the Peace Corps and the Australian Volunteer Program.
Directors welcomed the offer by the United States Coast Guard, developed in collaboration with Pacific Island countries participating in the Pacific Maritime Security Program, to provide training that will enhance the benefits the Pacific Islands receive from the Australian-endowed Guardian-class Patrol Vessel Fleet. They also welcomed the recent discussion of making additional US assets available to Pacific island nations for maritime surveillance, strengthening their ability to protect their vast maritime territories. Leaders also committed to further work with Japan, India and regional partners on the Quad-supported Indo-Pacific Maritime Asset Awareness Partnership.
The Directors welcomed the inclusion of the Papua New Guinea Defense Force, the Republic of Fiji Armed Forces and His Majesty’s Armed Forces of Tonga in future exercises, including Exercise TALISMAN SABER 2023 as part of the Australian Defense Force contingent. They expressed their desire to continue to improve interoperability with the armies of the Pacific, through support and participation in regional exercises. They also decided to work together to do more to remove unexploded ordnance in the Pacific.
Leaders noted that Southeast Asia is critical to regional stability and reaffirmed their commitment to ASEAN’s centrality and ASEAN-led regional architecture. They emphasized the role of the East Asia Summit as the main regional forum led by leaders to address strategic challenges and expressed their continued support for the practical implementation of the ASEAN Outlook for the Indo-Pacific. Australia welcomed the ASEAN-U.S. Comprehensive strategic partnership. The directors expressed their support for Indonesia’s priorities as the ASEAN Chair next year. They also welcomed the recent progress towards East Timor’s accession to ASEAN.
The principals pledged to work with Southeast Asian partners to support their priorities in the economy, climate, energy infrastructure and security cooperation. They reiterated their support for ASEAN-led efforts to respond to the ongoing crisis in Myanmar and their deep concern over the worsening situation in the country. They called on the Myanmar military regime to implement its commitments under the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus, to refrain from violence, release all those unjustly detained and allow unhindered humanitarian access. They committed to expanding their partnership to support the Mekong sub-region through an additional AUD 1.2 million (US$0.8 million) in funding for the Mekong Conservation Programme.
Principals welcomed the deepening of engagement through the Quad to address the needs of the region. They looked forward to the 2023 Quartet Leaders’ Summit in Australia to advance the positive and practical agenda of the Quartet.
Directors discussed the devastating impact of COVID-19 with a particular focus on the Indo-Pacific region and plan to increase cooperation to build resilience to prepare for future pandemics by working to prevent, detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. They recommitted to joint efforts to expand access to safe and effective vaccines; support pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, including through the Quad, the Global Health Funds and the newly established World Bank Pandemic Fund; and work with other Indo-Pacific countries to promote best public health practice. They also committed to a new collaborative program of support for the UN and regional organizations working in the Indo-Pacific to strengthen national and regional health security with a particular focus on the intersection between animal health and human health. Directors reaffirmed their commitment to multilateral and international efforts to end the pandemic and strengthen the World Health Organization and the global health architecture. Directors reaffirmed the importance of research and technical cooperation in providing equal access to health care, particularly in remote communities.
Directors also committed to ensuring that the voices of indigenous peoples are heard internationally and that we will protect, learn from and incorporate their knowledge and experience to address global challenges. The United States and Australia are also emphasizing the role of Indigenous peoples in our societies through projects to connect Indigenous business stakeholders, including sharing best practices and developing trans-Pacific networks.
Directors expressed serious concern about the grave human rights violations in Xinjiang, the human rights situation in Tibet, and the systematic erosion of Hong Kong’s autonomy, democratic institutions and processes that undermine the PRC’s pre-handover commitments. The leaders strongly condemned the ruthless suppression of peaceful protests by the Iranian authorities and remain committed to standing with the Iranian people, especially women, who are showing extraordinary courage in standing up for their rights. They also discussed ways to continue advancing gender equality and human rights, including the rights of all women and girls, in the rules-based international system and through initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region, including the convening of a bilateral strategic dialogue on gender equality.
The Directors reaffirmed their commitment to achieving the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and addressing the illegal nuclear and ballistic missile programs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), which pose a serious threat not only to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula but also to the Indo-Pacific region and the world. In this context, Australia welcomed the Phnom Penh Statement on the US-Japan-ROK Trilateral Partnership for the Indo-Pacific. They committed to continuous bilateral and multilateral coordination and reaffirmed the need for the international community to fully implement all relevant UN Security Council resolutions related to the DPRK. Reaffirming the shared belief that diplomacy is essential to denuclearization and the establishment of lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, the chiefs called on the DPRK to engage in sustainable dialogue and cease its destabilizing behavior. They noted with serious concern the continuing reports of grave human rights violations in the DPRK.
Climate, clean energy and the environment
The leaders emphasized the need for urgent action on climate change and the importance of the clean energy transition, pledging to pursue this as a new pillar of the US-Australia Alliance. This partnership builds on Australia’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and statutory target of reducing emissions by 43 percent below 2005 levels by 2030, and the United States’ NDC and its target of reducing emissions by 50 to 52 percent below 2005 levels. 2030. It also builds on significant United States climate action and investment, including the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act and the Australian Government’s Powering Australia Plan. Principals committed to work across their governments to strengthen investments in climate mitigation, including renewable energy and related infrastructure, clean transportation, nature-based solutions and climate-resilient infrastructure, in line with bilateral Net-Zero technology efforts Acceleration Partnership, Clean Energy Demand Initiative, and US-Australia Energy Security Dialogue.
Directors pledged to push for stronger global action to tackle the climate crisis and step up efforts during this critical decade to keep the 1.5 degree limit on temperature rise within reach. Directors also committed to continued coordination on building greater climate change preparedness and resilience, particularly with regard to those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including women, girls, Indigenous and First Nations peoples, and persons with disabilities. Building on Australia’s support for the Global Methane Pledge, both nations have committed to work towards significant methane reductions, particularly in the energy and waste sectors. Australia and the United States have also decided to work together and share experiences to support public sector emissions reductions globally, building on the government’s Net-Zero initiative launched by the United States at COP27 and Australia’s commitment to the Australian public service achieving net-zero emissions by 2030.
Leaders decided to strengthen coordination to support climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience efforts in response to the needs of partners in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, including supporting the exchange of information and expertise on climate finance and clean energy investments. They intend to continue working together with Indo-Pacific partners to achieve significant climate results in line with the existing regional architecture, including the Indo-Pacific Economic Prosperity Framework (IPEF), ASEAN, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Blue Pacific Partners, and the Quad.
Leaders pledged to take greater action to support the global protection and conservation of land and oceans, including addressing the critical issue of biodiversity loss. The United States and Australia have committed to the global ambition to conserve 30 percent of our land and oceans and to the successful development of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, complemented by Australia’s recent endorsement of the US-led Ocean Conservation Pledge. Both countries support ways to strengthen existing ocean-related partnerships, such as the International Blue Carbon Partnership, and intend to work closely together on issues affecting ocean health. Australia and the United States intend to continue to support global efforts to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030, including through the Forest and Climate Leaders Partnership. Both countries recognize the growing problem of plastic pollution and intend to actively support the development of an ambitious global response to end plastic pollution by 2040.
Recognizing the national security challenge posed by climate change, the directors pledged to strengthen information sharing and sharing of best practices between both Defense Departments to accelerate progress toward climate change resilience goals. This includes exploring the inclusion of updated climate words in the 2005 revision of the Joint Declaration on Environmental and Heritage Principles for Combined Activities. Directors also committed to exploring the possibility of establishing a new working group of senior officials to share assessments and advice on national and regional security risks posed by climate change.
Prosperity, innovation and resilient supply chains
Directors welcomed the upcoming IPEF negotiations and its vision for a free and open, connected, prosperous, resilient, inclusive and secure Indo-Pacific region. Together with 12 other IPEF partners, the United States and Australia plan to address economic challenges and opportunities, including through commitments related to trade, supply chains, clean energy, and tax and anti-corruption. Leaders are committed to ensuring that IPEF delivers results for all, especially workers, consumers and underrepresented groups such as Indigenous peoples and women. The United States appreciates Australia hosting the first round of IPEF negotiations in Brisbane from December 10-15.
Leaders highlighted the joint commitment of the United States and Australia to support security in the information and communications technology (ICT) ecosystem as a key foundation for expanding connectivity and bridging the digital divide. They identified additional areas for collaboration and funding opportunities to support reliable ICT infrastructure, including promoting supplier diversity and innovation to build more resilient supply chains in the Indo-Pacific region and globally. They also discussed how additional public-private partnerships on topics such as 5G/Open RAN, standards and supply chains can augment our work to support critical and emerging technology across the Quad governments.
Leaders welcomed and recognized the role of APEC, the main economic forum in the region, in improving the region’s resilience to future economic shocks; promoting a free, fair and open trade and investment environment; strengthening supply chains; addressing health-related threats; and advancing inclusive, sustainable growth, including during APEC’s 2023 host year in the United States.
The United States and Australia reaffirmed their commitment to support quality, transparent infrastructure development that addresses the needs of Indo-Pacific partners and creates local employment opportunities. They welcomed the renewal of the Trilateral Infrastructure Partnership (TIP) Memorandum of Understanding with Japan, which brings together key agencies to deliver quality and sustainable infrastructure projects across the Indo-Pacific region. TIP partners completed a joint mission to Vietnam in October 2022 and are planning another mission to Indonesia in early 2023. Leaders also noted the role the Blue Dot network could play in promoting quality infrastructure projects across the region and supporting infrastructure investment in low- and middle-income countries. The United States and Australia are also working with Japan to support digital projects that improve access to digital services in the Pacific. The US International Development Finance Corporation and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation will each provide, subject to final approvals, $50 million in loan guarantees for Export Finance Australia’s financing package, which was provided to support Telstra’s acquisition of Digicel Pacific’s telecommunications assets in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific. which will help upgrade the network to improve security and performance.
Leaders emphasized the importance of diverse, resilient and sustainable supplies of critical minerals across the energy transition value chain and for our economic and national security. Both countries are committed to working bilaterally and with like-minded countries through forums such as the Partnership for Mineral Security, the Energy Resource Management Initiative, the Conference on Critical Materials and Minerals and the International Energy Agency to identify and develop the extraction, processing and production of key minerals of opportunity. to secure supply chains essential to clean energy, electric vehicles, semiconductors, aerospace and defense, among other sectors. Both countries plan to work with industry and international partners to promote high environmental, social and governance standards for the production and processing of key minerals.
Leaders decided to formalize the enhanced force posture cooperation announced in 2021 as the “Force Posture Initiative” under the Force Posture Agreement. In doing so, these areas of cooperation—Enhanced Land Cooperation, Enhanced Maritime Cooperation and the Combined Logistics, Sustainment and Sustainment Enterprise—will complement existing initiatives announced in 2011. They confirmed that Australia and the United States will continue the rotational presence of US capabilities in Australia, in the air , land and sea areas. This would include rotations of U.S. bomber forces, fighters, and future rotations of U.S. Navy and U.S. Army capabilities. The directors decided to identify priority locations in Australia to support an enhanced US force posture with associated infrastructure, including runway improvements, parking areas, fuel infrastructure, explosive storage infrastructure and manpower support facilities.
Recognizing that logistics cooperation is a key line of effort for force posture cooperation, the chiefs decided to advance supplies, ammunition and fuel in support of US capabilities in Australia and demonstrate logistical interoperability through joint exercises. To support improved aviation cooperation, Australia and the United States have committed to jointly develop agile logistics at nominated airports—including bare bases in northern Australia—to support more responsive and resilient US aircraft rotations. Furthermore, to strengthen the US ground presence, the chiefs decided to expand locations for US Army and US Marine forces, to allow for exercises, activities and further opportunities for regional engagement, including in the context of humanitarian and disaster relief in the region.
In line with the recent commitment of the Trilateral Meeting of Defense Ministers of Australia, Japan and the United States to advance concrete and practical security initiatives, the Chiefs decided to enhance trilateral defense cooperation activities and invite Japan to increase its participation in the Australian Force Posture Initiative.
Leaders praised the significant progress AUKUS partners have made in developing the optimal pathway for Australia to acquire a conventional nuclear-powered submarine capability as soon as possible. They confirmed that AUKUS partners are on track to announce a way forward by early 2023. They reaffirmed AUKUS partners’ commitment to setting the highest possible non-proliferation standards and continuing to work transparently with the International Atomic Energy Agency towards an approach that will strengthen the non-proliferation regime. They further praised the efforts of AUKUS in the trilateral development of advanced capabilities for deterrence and operational effectiveness.
The leaders strongly condemned Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine. They again called on Russia to immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its forces within the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine. They emphasized that Russia’s nuclear threats are a serious and unacceptable threat to the peace and security of the entire international community, and that the use of nuclear weapons will be met with decisive responses by the international community.
The leaders pledged to continue to support Ukraine’s justified resistance to Russia’s open aggression and to hold individuals, entities and nations aiding Moscow in its war against Ukraine accountable for the extreme suffering they have helped liberate the Ukrainian people. They recognized that the Russian war is affecting food security, energy, agriculture and fertilizer imports to countries globally, hindering regional economic recovery from the pandemic. They called on Russia to continue participating in the Black Sea Grains Initiative, which lowers the prices of staple grains, cereals and oils.
They also pledged to improve cooperation to prevent the proliferation of nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction and defend the global multilateral non-proliferation architecture, including the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as the cornerstone of global non-proliferation and disarmament. regime.
The directors emphasized that strong industry and technological innovation are fundamental to promoting positive social and economic results. They emphasized how our bilateral partnership in critical and emerging technologies helps provide a model for the entire Indo-Pacific region. This includes joint capacity building and outreach to Southeast Asia and other Indo-Pacific partners regarding the responsible implementation of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and facial recognition.
The United States also reaffirmed its support for Australia’s Guided Weapons and Explosives Enterprise (GWEO), given the criticality of resilient supply chains. Principals have committed to local maintenance, repair and overhaul of higher priority munitions in Australia to improve existing stocks through GWEO.
Leaders applauded the strong technology and capability collaboration underway across the Alliance and underscored the criticality of combining forces to effectively respond to a more challenging strategic environment. Leaders committed to strengthening efforts to better channel and facilitate technology transfer and information sharing, including under the Australia-United States Defense Trade Cooperation Agreement. They also pledged to work closely on future E-7A Wedgetail early warning and control aircraft cooperation, including through the training of US Air Force personnel by the Royal Australian Air Force in Australia.
The leaders decided to improve space cooperation and awareness of the space domain and to strengthen secured access to space through future bilateral space agreements. They also acknowledged an important milestone in bilateral space cooperation, with the US-built Space Surveillance Telescope recently marking initial operational capability in Western Australia in September 2022.
Australia is looking forward to hosting the next AUSMIN in 2023.
