On 6 March 2024 the leaders of ASEAN and Australia adopted the ASEAN-Australia Vision Statement and the Melbourne Declaration, marking 50 years of ASEAN-Australia Dialogue Relations. To bolster peace and security in our region and address common security challenges, leaders committed to enhancing and expanding the scope and sophistication of practical defence cooperation. They agreed to work together to promote an open, resilient, inclusive, and transparent rules-based regional architecture in the Indo-Pacific region, with ASEAN at the centre. They committed to the objectives and principles of the Charter of the United Nations (UN), the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the ASEAN Charter, Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
The 2020 and 2021 ASEAN-Australia Informal Defence Ministers' Meetings facilitated direct engagement between Australian and ASEAN defence ministers and discussed our region's collective future. In the context of complex environmental challenges, economic uncertainty and strategic competition, Australia wants to see a regional order with ASEAN at its centre, promoting dialogue and respect for sovereignty and international law to reduce the risks of miscalculation, misunderstanding and conflict.
ASEAN and Australia share a commitment to a partnership which is substantive, meaningful and mutually beneficial, based on friendship, mutual trust, shared interests and a positive vision for our region's future. This can only be realised through proactive and innovative efforts to enhance our collective defence cooperation. Cooperation through ASEAN frameworks, such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), is a means for confidence building and conflict prevention, as well as capacity building.
In support of these efforts, Australia remains committed to delivering and implementing practical and targeted ASEAN-Australian defence cooperation. Building on Australia's 2020 Vision for Defence Engagement with ASEAN, this Defence Partnership for the Future sets new guidance for activities that will boost regional resilience and address shared security challenges.
| Partnership Principles | Areas of Focus and Projects |
Support ASEAN centrality and address areas of shared priority ASEAN and its sectoral bodies play a critical role in supporting an inclusive and rules-based approach to maintaining regional security and stability. Australia is committed to the principles of the AOIP, which serve as a guide to cooperation. |
Integrated ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group Activities - Australia will use its role as co-chair of the ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group (EWG) on Cyber Security with Cambodia to coordinate activities with other relevant EWGs and support ASEAN institutions to address regional challenges.
- Building on a history of combined EWG Field Training Exercises, we plan to coordinate end-of-cycle activities to achieve a multiplier effect.
Women, Peace and Security (WPS), and Climate Change - In 2023, Indonesia embedded the WPS agenda into the ADMM-Plus EWGs. Australia will work with our Cambodian co-chair to ensure a WPS component is embedded into the EWG on Cyber Security.
- Australia will also continue to work together to more broadly increase women's participation in peace and security processes in the region.
- Australia will consider climate change impacts of activities conducted in the defence sector.
Maritime Security - With reference to the AOIP's 'maritime' area of cooperation, the ASEAN-Australia Maritime Security Research Program will encourage cooperation among participants to find ASEAN-centred solutions to regional issues.
Military Medicine
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Promote ASEAN efforts to strengthen a rules-based regional architecture where sovereignty and international law is respected, including in cyberspace Events outside our region have demonstrated the global impact of a lack of respect for sovereignty, and international law. Australia's defence engagement with ASEAN will seek to support an effective and equitable rules-based international order that protects the interests of all countries. It will promote the peaceful resolution of disputes, and adherence to international law. |
Cyber Security - As co-chair of the EWG on Cyber Security with Cambodia, Australia will deliver outcomes to enhance the region's collective capacity to mitigate threats in the cyber domain, and promote international law and norms of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace.
- Australia will build upon ASEAN-led mechanisms and support existing ASEAN institutions, including the ADMM Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence (ACICE).
Indo-Pacific Endeavour - Australia will leverage our flagship regional engagement activity, Indo-Pacific Endeavour, to deliver activities and support to ASEAN. This follows support provided by IPE to Australia and Brunei Darussalam's 2023 Medical Aid Provision in the Philippines as part of their co-chair of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus Experts' Working Group on Military Medicine.
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Deepen people-to-people links and enhance regional capacity and capability Sharing experience and expertise through diverse training opportunities to boost collective regional capability. |
Education and Training - Australia will convene a new, regular Southeast Asia Defence Engagement Program, bringing junior military officers and defence officials from across ASEAN to Australia.
- Australia will continue delivery of the:
- ASEAN-Australia Defence Postgraduate Scholarship Program and welcome new scholars from Timor-Leste.
- ASEAN-Australia Maritime Security Research Program, and welcome new scholars from Timor-Leste.
- Australia will build on the success of the ASEAN-Australia Maritime Security Research Program, and institute an annual ASEAN-Australia Maritime Security Symposium.
Alumni Networks - Australia will grow existing and formalise new defence-related alumni networks, including by utilising the ASEAN-Australia Maritime Security Symposium to bring together our growing Southeast Asia alumni network.
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Transparency Communicate openly and honestly with ASEAN on our priorities, concerns and opportunities, particularly on regional security issues and the evolving strategic environment. |
Defence Posture and Strategy - Australia remains committed to transparency about Australia's strategic intentions and defence capabilities as a means to build strategic trust and understanding. To this end, Australia is committed to a biennial public National Defence Strategy cycle.
- Australia's international engagement activities, including with ASEAN, will be focused on achieving outcomes that contribute to regional security and stability and strengthen deterrence against the threat of military coercion or a major conflict.
- Regional defence engagement is a vital pillar of Australia's diplomacy, which we will continue to use to reduce tensions and create pathways for peace and stability. We will work through ASEAN-led mechanisms to promote dialogue and respect for sovereignty and international law, reduce the risk of miscalculation and misunderstanding, build resilience, and prevent conflict.
Engagement and Participation - Australia will actively participate in ASEAN forums, make meaningful contributions, and commit to deeper and more complex activities.
- Australia commits to the ADMM-Plus as the region's premier forum for strategic defence dialogue.
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