The Allies’ adoption of a more efficient and flexible partnership policy in April 2011 paved the way to enhance the practical cooperation and the political dialogue with these “partners across the globe” in the same fashion as with other partners.
Over the past decade, NATO and Australia have developed meaningful, practical cooperation in a great number of areas, most notably in the fight against terrorism, research and technology, and non-proliferation initiatives. Australian defence personnel have participated in a number of NATO activities, including several military exercises.
Australia is making a valuable and significant contribution to the NATO-led ISAF mission to stabilize Afghanistan. With some 1500 Australian Defence Force personnel deployed, Australia is the largest non-NATO contributor of troops to ISAF. As part of a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Uruzgan province in southern Afghanistan, Australian personnel provide security and deliver reconstruction and community-based projects. Additionally, Australia’s Special Operations Task Group has been operating in direct support of ISAF elements in Uruzgan province.
In addition to its contribution to NATO-led operations in Afghanistan and the former Yugoslavia, Australia and NATO have also worked together on several projects. In 2010, Australia contributed to a NATO Trust Fund project designed to clear unexploded ordinances in Saloglu, Azerbaijan. Australia is also the leading contributor to the Afghan National Army Trust Fund, having pledged 150 million Euros to the fund.
The Australian navy is also currently cooperating with NATO’s Counter Piracy Task Force to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia as part of Operation Ocean Shield.
Dialogue and consultation
To support cooperation, Australia designated its Ambassador in Brussels as its representative to NATO. It also appointed a defence attaché in Brussels and a military representative to NATO. NATO and Australia have also concluded an agreement on the protection of classified information.
Cooperation is also underpinned by regular high-level political dialogue. In 2005, the then NATO Secretary General visited Australia. Then Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer addressed the North Atlantic Council in 2005 and 2006. Former Foreign Minister Stephen Smith met the NATO Secretary General several times, and also subsequently in his capacity as Defence Minister. He addressed the North Atlantic Council in December 2008.
Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd also participated in the NATO summit meeting in Bucharest in April 2008. As foreign minister, he visited NATO on several occasions, and addressed the North Atlantic Council in January 2012. His successor as foreign minister, Bob Carr, had his first meeting with the Secretary General in April the same year.
Current Prime Minister Julia Gillard made her first trip to NATO in October 2010 to discuss ISAF’s efforts in Afghanistan with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. She and Defence Minister Stephen Smith also participated in the November 2010 Lisbon Summit, and both will be at the Chicago Summit in May 2012.
- The Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, the Partnership for Peace, the Mediterranean Dialogue and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative.
