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| Minister for Defence: Kevin Andrews |
The 14th annual Shangri-La Dialogue has successfully concluded.
Over the past few days I (Minister for Defence: Kevin Andrews) have met with many colleagues to share perspectives on the regional implications of global security issues, including terrorism in the Middle East, maritime security and building regional cooperation.
In my address to the final plenary session of the Dialogue, Global Security Challenges and the Asia-Pacific: Building Cooperation between Regions, I highlighted the Indo-Pacific’s economic interdependence and the role of secure sea lines in building our region’s prosperity.
This shared interest in economic prosperity and trade routes is already enhancing cooperation on security challenges that affect all of us, such as natural disasters, maritime piracy, and terrorism.
With a shift of power to the Indo-Pacific leading to increased growth, wealth and prosperity among regional states, the Shangri-La Dialogue will continue to provide an important opportunity for Defence Ministers and Defence Chiefs to meet and discuss security challenges affecting the Indo-Pacific region.
I also participated in the fifth Australia-Japan-United States Trilateral Defence Ministers’ Meeting, which was attended by the United States Secretary of Defense, Dr Ashton B. Carter, and Japan’s Minister for Defense, Mr Gen Nakatani.
We discussed enhancements to trilateral defence cooperation between Australia, Japan and the United States on regional security challenges, including maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
I was also honoured to be received by Singapore’s Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsein Loong. Singapore and Australia have shared a 50 year bilateral and defence relationship which continues to go from strength to strength.