Antony J. Blinken 71st U.S. Secretary of State | Official Website
Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III welcomed Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles, and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong to the 34th Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) on August 6, 2024.
"Well, good morning, everyone," said Secretary Blinken. "It’s a great pleasure – both professional and personal – to welcome Penny, to welcome Richard, to welcome the entire team here for AUSMIN." He emphasized the strong relationship between the United States and Australia, citing recent collaborations in Paris as evidence of their close ties.
Foreign Minister Wong acknowledged this sentiment with humor: "Yeah, we know. We know."
Deputy Secretary Campbell interjected humorously: "This should be closed to press."
Foreign Minister Wong responded: "You’re so provocative."
Secretary Blinken continued by highlighting the importance of the alliance between Australia and the United States in maintaining global peace and prosperity. He noted that their cooperation spans several key areas including security, economic initiatives, climate change, and clean energy.
"We’ve made extraordinary progress under AUKUS," he stated while also expressing appreciation for Australia's commitments at the NATO summit regarding Ukraine's defense.
On economic matters, Blinken described Australia and the United States as essential partners. He mentioned that the U.S. is the largest foreign investor in Australia and vice versa in terms of outbound FDI from Australia. The two nations are collaborating on emerging technologies such as quantum computing and AI.
Regarding climate change, Blinken highlighted their partnership in transitioning to clean energy through initiatives like the Critical Minerals Taskforce.
Foreign Minister Wong reflected on their shared values: "It is about who we are; it’s about what we stand for." She also addressed urgent international issues such as deteriorating conditions in the Middle East and Ukraine's ongoing conflict.
"We see this AUSMIN as another opportunity for us to work together," she added.
Secretary Austin welcomed his Australian counterparts warmly: "Welcome to Annapolis...and welcome to the 34th Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations." He emphasized historical cooperation between the two nations over more than a century.
Austin outlined plans to advance major force posture initiatives and deepen defense industrial cooperation. He expressed confidence that this year's AUSMIN would yield significant results.
Deputy Prime Minister Marles praised recent achievements under AUKUS: "We now have a pathway forward in terms of Australia acquiring a nuclear-powered submarine capability from the United States and the United Kingdom." He also highlighted increased U.S. military presence in Australia as part of integrated deterrence efforts within their region.
Marles echoed Wong's sentiments on U.S. leadership globally: "We look to your leadership in Ukraine...we could not be happier with your presence in Indo-Pacific."
The discussions underscored mutual respect and commitment towards strengthening their alliance amidst global challenges.
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