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UK Indo-Pacific Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan begins her first visit to Australia in her new role today (Sunday 27 November – Canberra), which focuses on joint efforts to promote peace and security in the region.
Ministers will meet Foreign Affairs Minister Senator Penny Wong and Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Secretary Richard Marles to discuss how the UK and Australia can deepen their defense and security partnership to support a stable, prosperous Indo-Pacific.
This includes progress on the AUKUS, which will see Australia armed with nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarines that feature world-leading UK technology. The initial 18-month scoping phase of the project is underway and is expected to be completed by spring. Besides AUKUS, he will also discuss the two countries’ comprehensive efforts to maintain stability and prosperity in the region, increase bilateral trade opportunities, combat climate change and continue support for Ukraine.
Ann-Marie Trevelyan MP, Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific, said:
I am delighted to be in Australia for the second time this year to strengthen defense and security ties with one of our closest partners.
Strong, ambitious partnerships with nations like Australia are at the core of our commitment to deepen our engagement with the Indo-Pacific and to become the European nation with the broadest, most integrated presence in the region.
British High Commissioner to Australia Vicky Tredell said:
I am delighted to welcome Anne Marie Trevelyan back to Australia in her new role as the UK’s Indo-Pacific Minister. The visit supports the UK’s ongoing commitment to Australia and the Indo-Pacific region, and builds on 18 months of UK engagement in the region, including the visit of the Carrier Strike Group, the AUKUS Agreement, our Prime Ministers’ meeting at the G20. in Bali and our upcoming free trade agreement.
Trevelyan will also meet Assistant Minister for Climate Change Senator Jenny McAllister and Shadow Climate Change and Energy Minister Ted O’Brien.
In addition to meetings with the federal government, he will also discuss UK priorities with key Australian parliamentarians, including members of the defense and trade and intelligence and security committees.
Her other engagements in Australia will include speaking at the Australian National Press Club on Monday 28th and attending an event at the Australian National Security College on Thursday 29th, where she will record a podcast on geopolitical challenges with Professor Rory Medcalf. Indo-Pacific.
Trevelyan begins his visit in Brisbane, receiving a ‘Welcome to Country’, which honors the traditional owners of the land. The Minister will meet with government and civil society representatives about the ongoing work the state and federal governments are doing with First Nations communities across Australia.
The Minister’s broad program of engagement with Australia – at state and federal level – reflects both the strength of the UK–Australia relationship and the importance of the Indo-Pacific to the UK in light of growing regional geopolitical competition.
Trevelyan’s visit to Australia is part of a wider nine-day trip to the Pacific, following a visit to Vanuatu earlier this week to attend a Pacific Community conference and promote UK support for countries on the front lines of climate change.
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