EU-Australia: First Security and Defence Dialogue under the Security and Defence Partnership (SDP) held in Canberra

On 18 May in Canberra, the European Union and Australia held their first Security and Defence Dialogue since the signature of the EU-Australia Security and Defence Partnership.

During the Dialogue, the EU and Australia agreed to enhance cooperation and coordinate on cyber issues, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference as well as crisis management. They committed to increase alignment on multilateral fora to safeguard the rules-based international order, in areas such as space security. The EU and Australia also exchanged on respective defence initiatives and defence industry policies.

The Dialogue was co-chaired by Benedikta von Seherr-Thoss, Managing Director for Peace, Security and Defence, European External Action Service, and Christian Hirst, First Assistant Secretary, Europe Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), as well as Bernard Philip, First Assistant Secretary, International Policy Division, Department of Defence.