Today I will travel to the Philippines to attend the ASEAN-Australia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum.
At a time of rising strategic competition and global economic uncertainty, it is more important than ever for Australia to work closely with ASEAN partners to help shape a region that is peaceful, stable and prosperous.
My meetings with regional and global counterparts will be an opportunity to advance Australia’s interests and continue work on shared challenges, including energy security, supply chain resilience and long-term economic prosperity.
Australia is ASEAN’s first Dialogue Partner and a Comprehensive Strategic Partner. At this year’s meetings we will mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, with its principles of dialogue and the peaceful resolution of disputes still vitally important today.
At the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum, I will underscore the important role ASEAN and ASEAN-led architecture play in building regional resilience, addressing regional challenges and reinforcing rules and norms.
This year Australia and the Philippines celebrate 80 years of diplomatic ties. I look forward to meeting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Theresa Lazaro to mark this important milestone and discuss our close economic, strategic and people-to-people ties.
Australia strongly supports the Philippines as the 2026 ASEAN Chair and its theme of ‘Navigating our Future, Together’, which reflects the spirit of our partnership and friendship.
