Shared membership of important global and regional multilateral forums including the G20, APEC and the EAS. Australia has a mature relationship with Russia that allows us to confront our differences directly when necessary but work constructively where our interests intersect.
Australia and the United States are close allies, maintaining a robust relationship underpinned by shared democratic values, common interests, and cultural affinities. Economic, academic, and people-to-people ties are vibrant and strong.
Key engagement. Australia is a consistent supporter of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and is proud to have contributed important defence, economic and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine in response to Russia's unilateral, illegal and immoral invasion on 24 February 2022.
Today, Australia enjoys bilateral security relationships with both New Zealand and the US under ANZUS. The treaty, while not formally revoked after the US- New Zealand nuclear dispute, no longer fully exists in practice.
The Russian Federation has an Embassy in Canberra, a Consulate-General in Sydney and Consulates in Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne. Approximately 98,000 Australians claim Russian ancestry, according to the 2021 Census. Read more about Australia's bilateral relationship with Russia here.
Current sanctions
Australia has already prohibited the import, purchase or transport of Russian oil, gas, refined petroleum products and coal since 25 April 2022.
Although Australia is not a member of NATO, it has cooperated with NATO forces by sending military units to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In 2014, Australia was granted NATO Enhanced Opportunities Partner status as a 'valuable, capable and reliable partner', alongside Finland, Georgia, Jordan, Sweden and Ukraine. Australia's relationship with NATO continues to evolve in response to today's complex security environment.
And it goes both ways The 2022 Asia NZ Foundation survey found Kiwis view Australia as their closest friend, with 84% seeing Australia as friendly (although I do think much of this has to do with NZ holding the Bledisloe Cup for the past 20 years).
An enduring alliance with the United States (US) remains Australia's most important defence relationship and continues to act as a crucial force multiplier for Australian Defence Force (ADF) capability.
Australia is the dominant exporter of iron ore, but Russia is also a significant producer. Russia is a much larger exporter of oil than Australia, and both countries are important sources of nickel, aluminium, copper, lead, zinc and gold.
The Australian Government is placing new sanctions on Moscow's propagandists and purveyors of disinformation, who are trying to legitimatise Russia's unprovoked, unjustified invasion with false narratives such as the “de-Nazification” of Ukraine.
Australia has provided Ukraine with a total of approximately $655 million in support, including $475 million in military assistance. This commitment demonstrates Australia's continued support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Bilateral relations
The Australia-China bilateral relationship is based on strong economic and trade complementarities and longstanding community and cultural links. In 2014, the Australian Prime Minister and Chinese President agreed to describe the relationship as a "comprehensive strategic partnership".
Switzerland and the UK, too, are quite similar to us. But some of the other countries that end up looking quite similar to Australia might surprise you – Estonia, Latvia, and Chile, for example. Ultimately, there's no one right answer to the question of which countries are most similar to Australia.
The GFP index denotes Australia as a Top 20 world power. For 2023, Australia is ranked 16 of 145 out of the countries considered for the annual GFP review. The nation holds a PwrIndx* score of 0.2567 (a score of 0.0000 is considered 'perfect'). This entry last reviewed on 01/05/2023.
Australia does not possess any nuclear weapons and is not seeking to become a nuclear weapon state. Australia's core obligations as a non-nuclear-weapon state are set out in the NPT.
Japan has been Australia's closest and most consistent partner in Asia since the 1980s. Each country views the bilateral trade, investment and diplomatic relationship as vital to its national interest and both countries also appreciate their important role in Asia and have a shared desire to see it prosper.
Australia has been ranked the top country by Indians for food, safety and friendliness. This Continent Country attracts millions of tourists every year for its quality of living, outdoor lifestyle, sports and beaches.
Located on the rim of the Pacific, Japan is not eligible to join NATO because of its geographical location. However, Japan has a close partnership with NATO. Japan is a member of “partners across the globe” along with such countries as Australia.
The US Navy has only one base currently in Australia: Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt in Exmouth, Western Australia. . There is one other non-Navy US base in Australia: Pine Gap in Alice Springs, in the center of Northern Territory.
More broadly, NATO's Article 5 security guarantee and its ironclad promise of collective defence provides Allies with the confidence that they can send weapons to Ukraine without diminishing their own security.
Six EU member states, all who have declared their non-alignment with military alliances, are not NATO members: Austria, Cyprus, Finland, Ireland, Malta, and Sweden. Additionally, Switzerland, which is surrounded by the EU, has also maintained their neutrality by remaining a non-EU-member.
The Russia–NATO relations started to deteriorate, following the Ukrainian Orange Revolution in 2004–05. In October 2021, following an incident in which NATO expelled eight Russian officials from its Brussels headquarters, Russia suspended its mission to NATO and ordered the closure of the NATO office in Moscow.
The person is nominated by member governments for an initial period of four years, which can be extended by mutual consent. The post is currently held by Jens Stoltenberg, former Prime Minister of Norway, who took up his responsibilities on 1 October 2014.