The Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP, is travelling to Germany and the United Kingdom from 17-23 February.
In Germany, he is representing Australia at the 59th Munich Security Conference, Europe's leading global security forum, bringing together leaders from government, business and academia.
Minister Conroy will hold high-level talks with counterparts and defence industry representatives. It will be an opportunity to highlight Australia's contributions to international security, to provide a strong Indo-Pacific perspective to discussions.
In the United Kingdom, Minister Conroy will have a series of high-level bilateral engagements across his portfolios, including with Minister of State for Defence Procurement, the Rt Hon Alex Chalk MP, and Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific, the Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP.
While in the UK, Minister Conroy will visit the BAE Shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness, to be briefed about the UK approach to developing the industrial base and workforce needed for the construction of nuclear-powered submarines.
Quotes attributable to Pat Conroy, Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for International Development and the Pacific:
"I look forward to discussing Australia's perspectives on the Indo-Pacific at the Munich Security Conference and how we can work with like-minded partners to ensure an inclusive, secure and prosperous region.
"On the anniversary of Russia's illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine, I will reinforce Australia's support for Ukraine and our efforts to promote stability and protect the rules-based order in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
"Engaging with my UK counterparts is an opportunity to deepen our defence industrial collaboration, as we look ahead to developing new defence capabilities to strengthen our national security."
