The BGA Australia Team, led by Managing Director Michael “Mick” McNeill, wrote an update to clients on Australia’s recent international engagements.

Context

  • The foreign ministers of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (the “Quad”) met in Tokyo July 29, with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong saying the partners are “facing the most confronting circumstances in our region in decades.” Wong and her counterparts from India, Japan and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to uphold the international order and announced initiatives to strengthen maritime security and cybersecurity in the Indo-Pacific. Although careful not to explicitly name China, the ministers’ statement expressed opposition to China’s increasing belligerence in the East and South China seas.
  • Wong announced that Australia will provide $18 million over four years to establish a “Cable Connectivity and Resilience Center,” under the Quad Critical and Emerging Technology working group. The center will support states in the region to develop new and resilient cable networks as securing subsea cable infrastructure becomes increasingly vital in the contest for influence in the Indo-Pacific.

Significance

  • The ministers pledged to increase maritime domain awareness by sharing satellite data, training and building surveillance capacity of partners in the Pacific and establishing a maritime legal dialogue. The Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness, which provides and circulates maritime domain data in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, will be expanded to include the Indian Ocean.
  • Australia’s Cable Connectivity and Resilience Center, embedded in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade based in Canberra is intended to build resilience in the Pacific. It will boost connectivity for Pacific nations, provide training and technical assistance around subsea cables, strengthen engagement between Indo-Pacific governments and industry, and develop policy and regulations regarding undersea cables.

Implications

  • Over the coming month, several more Australian ministers will engage in high-level bilateral and multilateral visits. This week, newly appointed Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke visited Indonesia to discuss security issues. The Australia–U.S. Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) will take place near Washington August 6, and the Pacific Islands Forum Summit will take place at the end of the month. As security challenges deepen in the region, the Australian government is strengthening relations with key partners.
  • The dialogue will focus on strengthening the alliance and foster discussions about regional security. Australia will want to reinforce relations with Washington ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November in case of a change in government resulting in a more unpredictable term under former U.S. President Donald Trump. Whatever the election result, officials in Washington and Canberra are confident the alliance will remain strong. Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the U.S. chief of naval operations, said the U.S. commitment to AUKUS — the Australia, United Kingdom and United States security partnership — would remain steadfast, regardless of who is president.
  • The 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting will take place August 26-30 in Tonga. The theme of this year’s meeting is “Transformative, Resilient, Pasifiki: Build Better Now.” Tongan Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni will chair the meeting. He said this year’s forum will focus on delivering results and achieving the goals established in the 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy.

We will continue to keep you updated on developments in Australia as they occur. If you have any questions or comments, please contact BGA Australia Managing Director Michael “Mick” McNeill at mmcneill@bowergroupasia.com.

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Managing Director

Mick is a highly-experienced government relations expert and trusted advisor on consensus building, conflict resolution and legislative developments. He has played an integral role in helping parties achieve desired outcomes in areas of national security, health policy, foreign policy and reputational crisis management, as well as media relations, communications campaigns, immigration and human rights. Mick has two decades’ experience working with government as a media analyst, political adviser and NGO advocacy manager. After a stint serving as an adviser to an Australian senator, Mick took on the role of the locally engaged senior political specialist at the U.S. Embassy in ... Read More