Informal talks of EU security deal under way with Canberra

The Advertiser

a day ago

Australia will push ahead with informal talks for a new security agreement with Europe which could involve future defence industry cooperation and intelligence sharing, the EU's top diplomat has confirmed.
Gabriele Visentin, the European Union's ambassador to Australia, said both sides have agreed to informal talks about the prospect of a security pact after the EU floated the idea on the sidelines of Pope Leo XIV's inauguration in May.
Mr Visentin said a potential deal would mirror similar agreements between the EU and other countries such as Japan and South Korea, which involve military exercises and other cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
"It's not a military alliance. It's a partnership for co-operation on defence issues, including industrial things," the envoy told the National Press Club on Wednesday.
"So there is no scope for an understanding in terms of transfer of troops or mutual help and mutual assistance."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared to initially downplay the idea of a security pact with the EU after noting Australia already had similar agreements in place with other European countries, including Germany.
Mr Visentin indicated he was optimistic the Albanese government would come around after Defence Minister Richard Marles held a recent meeting with the bloc's High Representative in Singapore.
European countries are preparing to spend billions of dollars to rebuild their armies in the wake of reduced support from the US and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Visentin said a European security pact with Australia would be critical as Russia broadens its ambitions beyond Ukraine and China scales up its military posture in the Indo-Pacific.
"I think that there are geopolitical tensions which are aiming at reversing what the international rules-based order is, regardless of the actors. And I think that we have to team up to defend that," he said.
In a thinly veiled reference to US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs, Mr Visentin also expressed concerns that rising "isolationism and protectionism" will see an increase in unfair trading practices.
Mr Visentin confirmed ongoing disputes over negotiations for a free trade agreement between Australia and the EU were unresolved but encouraged both governments to "team up and defend tree trade."
"Nothing has changed in terms of content. The differences are still there. And are still difficult to resolve and to address," he said.
"What has changed, of course, is the willingness and the readiness to try to strike a deal. We have seen an incredible change in the geopolitics and in the world of trade."
Australia will push ahead with informal talks for a new security agreement with Europe which could involve future defence industry cooperation and intelligence sharing, the EU's top diplomat has confirmed.
Gabriele Visentin, the European Union's ambassador to Australia, said both sides have agreed to informal talks about the prospect of a security pact after the EU floated the idea on the sidelines of Pope Leo XIV's inauguration in May.
Mr Visentin said a potential deal would mirror similar agreements between the EU and other countries such as Japan and South Korea, which involve military exercises and other cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
"It's not a military alliance. It's a partnership for co-operation on defence issues, including industrial things," the envoy told the National Press Club on Wednesday.
"So there is no scope for an understanding in terms of transfer of troops or mutual help and mutual assistance."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared to initially downplay the idea of a security pact with the EU after noting Australia already had similar agreements in place with other European countries, including Germany.
Mr Visentin indicated he was optimistic the Albanese government would come around after Defence Minister Richard Marles held a recent meeting with the bloc's High Representative in Singapore.
European countries are preparing to spend billions of dollars to rebuild their armies in the wake of reduced support from the US and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Visentin said a European security pact with Australia would be critical as Russia broadens its ambitions beyond Ukraine and China scales up its military posture in the Indo-Pacific.
"I think that there are geopolitical tensions which are aiming at reversing what the international rules-based order is, regardless of the actors. And I think that we have to team up to defend that," he said.
In a thinly veiled reference to US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs, Mr Visentin also expressed concerns that rising "isolationism and protectionism" will see an increase in unfair trading practices.
Mr Visentin confirmed ongoing disputes over negotiations for a free trade agreement between Australia and the EU were unresolved but encouraged both governments to "team up and defend tree trade."
"Nothing has changed in terms of content. The differences are still there. And are still difficult to resolve and to address," he said.
"What has changed, of course, is the willingness and the readiness to try to strike a deal. We have seen an incredible change in the geopolitics and in the world of trade."
Australia will push ahead with informal talks for a new security agreement with Europe which could involve future defence industry cooperation and intelligence sharing, the EU's top diplomat has confirmed.
Gabriele Visentin, the European Union's ambassador to Australia, said both sides have agreed to informal talks about the prospect of a security pact after the EU floated the idea on the sidelines of Pope Leo XIV's inauguration in May.
Mr Visentin said a potential deal would mirror similar agreements between the EU and other countries such as Japan and South Korea, which involve military exercises and other cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
"It's not a military alliance. It's a partnership for co-operation on defence issues, including industrial things," the envoy told the National Press Club on Wednesday.
"So there is no scope for an understanding in terms of transfer of troops or mutual help and mutual assistance."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared to initially downplay the idea of a security pact with the EU after noting Australia already had similar agreements in place with other European countries, including Germany.
Mr Visentin indicated he was optimistic the Albanese government would come around after Defence Minister Richard Marles held a recent meeting with the bloc's High Representative in Singapore.
European countries are preparing to spend billions of dollars to rebuild their armies in the wake of reduced support from the US and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Visentin said a European security pact with Australia would be critical as Russia broadens its ambitions beyond Ukraine and China scales up its military posture in the Indo-Pacific.
"I think that there are geopolitical tensions which are aiming at reversing what the international rules-based order is, regardless of the actors. And I think that we have to team up to defend that," he said.
In a thinly veiled reference to US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs, Mr Visentin also expressed concerns that rising "isolationism and protectionism" will see an increase in unfair trading practices.
Mr Visentin confirmed ongoing disputes over negotiations for a free trade agreement between Australia and the EU were unresolved but encouraged both governments to "team up and defend tree trade."
"Nothing has changed in terms of content. The differences are still there. And are still difficult to resolve and to address," he said.
"What has changed, of course, is the willingness and the readiness to try to strike a deal. We have seen an incredible change in the geopolitics and in the world of trade."
Australia will push ahead with informal talks for a new security agreement with Europe which could involve future defence industry cooperation and intelligence sharing, the EU's top diplomat has confirmed.
Gabriele Visentin, the European Union's ambassador to Australia, said both sides have agreed to informal talks about the prospect of a security pact after the EU floated the idea on the sidelines of Pope Leo XIV's inauguration in May.
Mr Visentin said a potential deal would mirror similar agreements between the EU and other countries such as Japan and South Korea, which involve military exercises and other cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
"It's not a military alliance. It's a partnership for co-operation on defence issues, including industrial things," the envoy told the National Press Club on Wednesday.
"So there is no scope for an understanding in terms of transfer of troops or mutual help and mutual assistance."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared to initially downplay the idea of a security pact with the EU after noting Australia already had similar agreements in place with other European countries, including Germany.
Mr Visentin indicated he was optimistic the Albanese government would come around after Defence Minister Richard Marles held a recent meeting with the bloc's High Representative in Singapore.
European countries are preparing to spend billions of dollars to rebuild their armies in the wake of reduced support from the US and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Visentin said a European security pact with Australia would be critical as Russia broadens its ambitions beyond Ukraine and China scales up its military posture in the Indo-Pacific.
"I think that there are geopolitical tensions which are aiming at reversing what the international rules-based order is, regardless of the actors. And I think that we have to team up to defend that," he said.
In a thinly veiled reference to US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs, Mr Visentin also expressed concerns that rising "isolationism and protectionism" will see an increase in unfair trading practices.
Mr Visentin confirmed ongoing disputes over negotiations for a free trade agreement between Australia and the EU were unresolved but encouraged both governments to "team up and defend tree trade."
"Nothing has changed in terms of content. The differences are still there. And are still difficult to resolve and to address," he said.
"What has changed, of course, is the willingness and the readiness to try to strike a deal. We have seen an incredible change in the geopolitics and in the world of trade."