The European Union and Australia are set to begin negotiations for a security and defence partnership that will also cover counter-terrorism and cybersecurity.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with EU senior representatives on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, where they agreed to pursue this path.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described this move as opening a "new chapter" of "friendship" between Australia and the EU, in a joint statement released on Wednesday. She emphasised that in a time of "increasing tensions and strategic competition," reliable partners must remain united.
This partnership acknowledges the shared security needs in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region, the Commission President added. It aims to establish a framework for cooperation in defence industry, cybersecurity, and counter-terrorism.
Prime Minister Albanese expressed his eagerness to begin negotiating this partnership "immediately," seeing it as an opportunity for "joint defence procurement" that could benefit both European and Australian industries.
The EU has already forged similar partnerships with six other countries, including Japan and South Korea.
Additionally, Brussels and Canberra have recently resumed talks for a free trade agreement that had been stalled in recent years. Von der Leyen confirmed their intention to advance these discussions, although they will remain separate from the security partnership negotiations.
The announcement of this strategic rapprochement between the EU and Australia comes as the Australia-UK-US trilateral alliance for the Indo-Pacific is scheduled for review by the administration of former US President Donald Trump.
