The prime ministers of Australia and the United Kingdom (UK), Scott Morrison and Boris Johnson, met virtually on Thursday to reiterate their commitment to a rules-based international order that is free from coercion and respects the sovereign rights of all nations, while also reaffirming their bilateral ties based on shared values and common interests.
The UK and Australia are the closest of friends and historic allies.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 16, 2022
Tonight Prime Minister @ScottMorrisonMP and I agreed to strengthen the partnership between our nations, making it fit for the next century and grounded in our shared priorities on security, democracy and trade. pic.twitter.com/z5F7HGmiac
According to the press release by the Government of Australia, the pair expressed concern over the situation in Ukraine and reiterated their commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. They stressed the need for de-escalation and emphasised that any further Russian incursion into Ukraine could be catastrophic carry a huge humanitarian cost.
Moreover, both sides vowed to build a partnership across several pillars such as trade, AUKUS, health, security and defence, climate and environment, science and technology, and Indo-Pacific cooperation.
Trade and Investment
Morrison and Johnson welcomed the conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA)—Britain’s first FTA since it left the European Union (EU)—and pledged to ensure the effective and early implementation of the agreement, saying that it promises valuable opportunities for both countries. Additionally, the leaders hailed the significant bilateral investments between the two countries, with Australia investing billions in Britain’s infrastructure and renewable energy industries.
Furthermore, Morrison and Johnson reviewed progress to support critical minerals supply chains via the establishment of a Joint Working Group that was formed in 2020. In addition, Morrison welcomed Britain’s progress towards gaining membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
AUKUS
Morrison and Johnson reaffirmed their commitment to the AUKUS military partnership with the United States, which was announced last September to ensure an open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific. Under AUKUS, Australia will be able to build a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines with the technology shared by its partners under the Exchange of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information Agreement (ENNPIA), which came into force on February 8 of this year.
Security and Defence
The press release highlighted Australia and the UK’s commitment to increase joint naval activities in the Indo-Pacific. The two leaders also spoke of the need to build resilience against foreign interference and introduce measures to counter hostile activities by state actors, and also underscored their commitment to online safety and security.
Excellent discussion with my good friend @BorisJohnson on the very concerning situation in Ukraine and implications for the Indo-Pacific. We’re advancing our AUKUS & security ties, and doing more together in our region, including with ASEAN, and in trade and science and tech. pic.twitter.com/FI2dZogsRU
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) February 17, 2022
Climate and Environment
The Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to addressing climate change and its consequences via the effective implementation of the Glasgow Climate Pact and the Paris Agreement. “The UK has committed to reducing its emissions by at least 68% till 2030 on 1990 levels and Australia has committed to reducing its emissions by 26-28% till 2030 on 2005 levels, and is on track to achieve a reduction of up to 35% on 2005 levels by 2030,” the joint statement said.
Furthermore, they reiterated their commitment to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 and agreed to fast-track the development of technology needed to achieve the goal.
Health
The leaders pledged cooperation to overcome the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and spoke of the need to share vaccines through the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC). Furthermore, they committed to building a more resilient and responsive global health system, and also to identifying the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Science and Technology
Morrison and Johnson called for further collaboration in advancing technologies between both countries across various sectors such as climate, agriculture, cyber-security, and communications.
Indo-Pacific Cooperation
Following discussions at AUKMIN, the leaders discussed their commitment to promoting a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific. The UK pledged approximately $35 million towards strengthening the region’s resilience in sectors such as maritime security, cyber threats, and state threats. Furthermore, the leaders decided to cooperate with ASEAN countries and other partners to meet the needs of the region.
Lastly, Morrison and Johnson expressed grave concern over the situation in Myanmar following the military coup last year and China’s human rights violations in Xinjiang, and also called on Beijing to protect Hong Kong’s rights, freedom, and autonomy. Furthermore, they emphasised the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the implementation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the South China Sea.