Visit to Belgium for NATO Foreign Ministers’ meeting

I will travel tomorrow to Brussels for a meeting of NATO Foreign Affairs Ministers to discuss our coordinated international response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and other global security challenges.

Australia and NATO enjoy a deep and enduring partnership, unified in our shared values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rules-based order. Australia has a close relationship as one of NATO’s Enhanced Opportunities Partners.

NATO is an important partner to Australia because challenges to global stability are not confined by geographic regions or boundaries. Our relationship reflects the fact that security in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions are connected and we share a commitment to maintaining that security across regions.

In Brussels, I will also meet with a number of ministerial counterparts.

Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has shown that global peace and security can never be taken for granted.

Australia is working with partners to impose a high cost on those in Russia and Belarus who bear responsibility, or hold levers of power. To date, we have imposed sanctions on over 500 individuals and entities.

We are providing $65 million in humanitarian funding to help the most urgent needs of the Ukrainian people.

Australia welcomes the measures taken by NATO to support Ukraine including military assistance, humanitarian aid, and additional sanctions on elites, duma members and defence companies. Australia is providing a total of $116 million of defensive military assistance to Ukraine.

I look forward to meeting with my NATO colleagues to strengthen our international solidarity in responding to Russia’s illegal and unjust actions.