Foreign relations of Australia
Foreign relations of Australia are influenced by its position as a leading trading nation and as a significant donor of humanitarian aid. Australia's foreign policy is guided by a commitment to multilateralism and regionalism, as well as to build strong bilateral relations with its allies. Key concerns include free trade, terrorism, refugees, economic co-operation with Asia and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Australia is active in the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations. Given its history of starting and supporting important regional and global initiatives, it has been described as a regional middle power par excellence.[1]
It maintains significant ties with ASEAN and has become steadfastly allied with New Zealand, through long-standing ties dating back to the 1800s. The country also has a longstanding alliance with the United States of America. Over recent decades Australia has sought to strengthen its relationship with Asian countries, with this becoming the focus of the country's network of diplomatic missions.[2][3][4][5][6][7] In 2021, Australia signed a significant security partnership with the United Kingdom and the United States of America (AUKUS) aimed at upholding security in the Indo-Pacific region.
History edit
Before the Second World War, Australia saw its economic and military security assured by being a loyal dominion of the British Empire and generally sought to align its diplomatic policies with those of the British Government. Although Australia, like other British Dominions, was a signatory to the Treaty of Versailles and a member of the League of Nations, the British Government handled most of Australia's diplomatic exchanges outside the Empire.[8] The approach of the Second World War saw the first steps by Australia in establishing its own diplomatic network, particularly with economically and politically important countries of the Pacific Rim. The first accredited diplomat sent to a foreign country was Richard Casey, appointed as the first Minister to the United States in January 1940.[9] This was followed shortly after by the arrival of the first Australian high commissioner to Canada,[10] and by appointments of Ministers to Japan in 1940 and China in 1941. With the entry of Japan into the war in December 1941 and the consequent heightened vulnerability of Australia to attack, a critical decision was made by the Curtin Government to more closely seek the military protection of the United States. Since that time, United States has been the most important security ally. The close security relationship with the United States was formalized in 1951 by the Australia, New Zealand, United States Security (ANZUS) Treaty which remains the cornerstone of Australian security arrangements.
During and after the Second World War, and in parallel with the evolution of the British Empire to the Commonwealth of Nations, Australia progressively took responsibility for fully managing its foreign relations with other states. Australia concluded an agreement in 1944 with New Zealand dealing with the security, welfare, and advancement of the people of the dependent territories of the Pacific (the ANZAC pact).[11] Australia was one of the founders of the United Nations (1945) and the South Pacific Commission (1947), and in 1950, it proposed the Colombo Plan to assist developing countries in Asia. After the war, Australia played a role in the Far Eastern Commission in Japan and supported Indonesian independence during that country's revolt against the Dutch (1945–49).[12]
As the Cold War deepened, Australia aligned itself fully with the Western Powers. In addition to contributing to UN forces in the Korean War – it was the first country to announce it would do so after the United States – Australia sent troops to assist in putting down the communist revolt in Malaya in 1948–60 and later to combat the Indonesian-supported invasion of Sarawak in 1963–65.[13] Australia sent troops to repel communism and assist South Vietnamese and American forces in the Vietnam War, in a move that stirred up antiwar activism at home.[14] Australia has been active in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, and in the Australia – New Zealand – United Kingdom agreement and the Five Power Defence Arrangement—successive arrangements with Britain and New Zealand to ensure the security of Singapore and Malaysia.
After the end of the Cold War, Australia remained an important contributor to UN peacekeeping missions and to other multilateral security missions, often in alliance with the United States. Notably, it joined coalition forces in the Persian Gulf War in 1991, the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021), the Iraq War of 2003-2011 and the War in Iraq (2013-2017). In 1999 Australian peace keeping forces intervened in East Timor following its referendum to secede from Indonesia. In 2006 Australia sent a contingent of Australian troops to the state to assist in the 2006 East Timor crisis.[15] Australia has also most recently led security assistance, peacekeeping and policing missions elsewhere in its neighbourhood, including in the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Tonga.
In the late 20th Century and early 21st Century, a new element in Australia's foreign relations was the growing relationship with the People's Republic of China. After the establishment of diplomatic relations in December 1972, Sino-Australian relations grew rapidly, to a point where China became Australia's main trading partner and extensive official and people-to-people links were well established. In the first 15 years of the 21st Century, Australia maintained privileged relations with both the United States and China. Since 2017, Sino-Australian relations have deteriorated dramatically, as a result of Australian criticism of policies and actions taken under General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Xi Jinping. This has strongly influenced recent Australian bilateral and multi-lateral engagements such as the Pacific Step-Up with Pacific Island states, the development of comprehensive strategic partnerships with a number of regional states, and the pursuit of alliances directed at countering Chinese predominance in the Indo-Pacific region. Since 2017, existing security arrangements have been augmented by a revived Quadrilateral Security Dialogue involving India, Japan and United States, the 2021 AUKUS security partnership with the United States and United Kingdom and the 2022 Australia-Japan Reciprocal Access Agreement, which provides for closer Australian-Japanese cooperation on defence and humanitarian operations.
International agencies, treaties, and agreements edit
Membership of international organizations and groupings edit
One of the drafters of the UN Charter, Australia has given firm support to the United Nations system. Australia held the first Presidency of the Security Council in 1946 and provided the first military observers under UN auspices a year later, to Indonesia. It has been a member of the Security Council a further four times, in 1956–57, 1973–74, 1986–87 and 2013–14.[16] It has been regularly elected a member of the Economic and Social Council most recently for 2020–22, a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2018-20 and its predecessor the UN Commission on Human Rights in the 1990s. Australia takes a prominent part in many other UN activities, including peacekeeping, disarmament negotiations, and narcotics control. In September 1999, acting under a UN Security Council mandate, Australia led an international coalition to restore order in East Timor upon Indonesia's withdrawal from that territory. Australia has also been closely engaged in international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance through the Specialized agencies, Funds and Programmes and Regional Commissions of the United Nations and major International Financial Institutions, in particular the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Australia is a member of the G20, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the APEC forum. It is active in meetings of the Commonwealth Heads of Government, the Pacific Islands Forum and other Pacific Islands regional organizations and the Indian Ocean Rim Association. It has been a leader in the Cairns Group – countries pressing for agricultural trade reform in the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) negotiations. Australia is also a member of MIKTA, an informal and diverse middle power partnership between Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey and Australia, led by its foreign ministers, which seeks to promote an effective, rules-based global order.
Australia has devoted particular attention in the early 21st century to promoting regional architecture centred around the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to support dialogue on political, security and economic challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. Australia is an active participant in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the ASEAN sponsored East Asia Summit. Australia's place at the 2005 inaugural summit was only secured after it agreed to reverse its policy and accede to ASEAN's Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. Australia had been reluctant to sign the treaty out of concerns regarding how it would affect Australia's obligation under other treaty arrangements including ANZUS.
Security treaties edit
Instrument | Countries |
---|---|
Five Power Defence Arrangements | United Kingdom • Australia • New Zealand • Singapore • Malaysia |
ANZUS | Australia • New Zealand (partially suspended) • United States |
ANZUK | Australia • New Zealand • United Kingdom |
Special strategic partnership edit
- Japan (as of 2014).[17] Under this partnership, Australia and Japan have established a strong and broad-ranging security relationship under the renewed 2022 Australia-Japan Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation.[18]
Comprehensive strategic partnerships edit
Comprehensive strategic partnerships are broad, high level relationships which have increasingly been formalized in the Asia-Pacific region under this description since the early 21st century. They are arrangements which, in general, convey a sense of mutual value, strategic alignment and positive intent to further strengthen ties.[19] They establish the framework for an intensified level of engagement across governments and indicate particularly close bilateral relations. Australia has a formal comprehensive strategic partnership with the following countries and multi-national organizations:
- Singapore (as of 2016)[20]
- Indonesia (as of 2018)[21]
- India (as of 2020)[22]
- Papua New Guinea (as of 2020)[23]
- Malaysia (as of 2021)[24]
- South Korea (as of 2021)[25]
- ASEAN (as of 2021)[26]
- Vietnam (as of 2024)[27]
In 2014, the Australian Prime Minister and Chinese President agreed to describe the relationship as a "comprehensive strategic partnership", and this helped facilitate an extensive program of engagement. This partnership has been dormant since relations deteriorated, particularly since 2020.
Trade edit
Overall Australia's largest trading partners are the United States, South Korea, Japan, China, and the United Kingdom. Australia currently has bilateral Free Trade Agreements with New Zealand, the United States, Thailand and Singapore as of 2007 and the United Kingdom as of 2021. As well as this, Australia is in the process undertaking studies on Free Trade Agreements with ASEAN, China, Chile, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
- Australia–Chile Free Trade Agreement
- Australia–China Free Trade Agreement
- Australia–Korea Free Trade Agreement
- Australia–New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement
- Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement
- Australia–United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement
- Australia–Fiji Free Trade Agreement
Armaments edit
To bolster its foreign policy, Australia maintains a very well-equipped military, According to SIPRI, Australia is the fourth largest importer of major weapons in the world.[28] The US supplied 60 per cent of Australia's imports and Spain 29 per cent.[29] All armed services have received new major arms in 2014–18, but mainly aircraft and ships. The F-35 combat aircraft and antisubmarine warfare aircraft from the USA made up 53 per cent of Australian arms imports in 2014–18, while ships from Spain accounted for 29 per cent. Large deliveries for additional aircraft and ships are outstanding.[29]
Australia is modernising its armed forces but also acquiring weapons that significantly increase its long-range capabilities. Among the weapons imported in 2010–14 were 5 tanker aircraft and the first of 2 amphibious assault ships from Spain, along with 2 large transport aircraft and 4 airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft from the USA. Australia also received 26 combat aircraft from the US, with 82 more on order (see box 3), as well as 8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft from the US and 3 Hobart destroyers from Spain. Australia's imports of major weapons increased 37 percent between 2010 and 2014 and 2014–18, making it the fourth largest importer in the world according to SIPRI.[29]
In 2021, after Australia ended its 20-year military mission in Afghanistan, the defence officials held formal talks on strengthening military ties with the United Arab Emirates. However, the human rights groups said that it was "very concerning" to witness, as the Emirates was accused of carrying out "unlawful attacks" in war-torn nations like Libya and Yemen.[30]
In December 2021, Australia signed a defence procurement deal with South Korea worth $1billion AUD (US$720 million) for modern artillery, supply trucks and radars supplied by South Korean defense company Hanwha. The South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison met for the signing of the agreement and additionally announced they were formally upgrading the Australian-South Korean relationship to a "comprehensive strategic partnership."[31]
Diplomatic relations edit
As of 2011, Australia had established formal diplomatic relations with all members of the United Nations as well as the Holy See, Kosovo, Cook Islands and (in 2014) Niue. In many cases, diplomatic relations are maintained on a non-resident basis, with the Australian ambassador or high commissioner based in another country. Since 2012, diplomatic relations have been effectively suspended with the Syrian Arab Republic, with no diplomatic accreditation by either country maintained, but consular relations continue.[32] In the case of Afghanistan, following the Taliban takeover in 2021, diplomatic relations are in an ambiguous status with Australia "temporarily" closing its embassy in Kabul and not recognizing the Islamic Emirate government but maintaining the credentials of the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Canberra.[33] A number of Canadian missions provide consular assistance to Australians in countries in Africa where Australia does not maintain an office (and Australia reciprocates this arrangement for Canada in some other countries) through the Canada-Australia Consular Services Sharing Agreement.[34]
Due to the One China Policy of the People's Republic of China, the Australian Office in Taiwan (formerly the Australian Commerce and Industry Office) unofficially represents Australia's interest in Taiwan, serving a function similar to other Australian Consulates.
List edit
List of countries which Australia maintains diplomatic relations with:
# | Country | Date |
---|---|---|
1 | United Kingdom | March 1936[35] |
2 | Canada | 2 November 1939[36] |
3 | United States | 8 January 1940[37] |
4 | Japan | 17 August 1940[38] |
5 | India | 7 March 1941[39] |
6 | Netherlands | 16 April 1942[40] |
7 | Russia | 10 October 1942[41] |
8 | New Zealand | 27 February 1943[42] |
9 | France | 13 December 1944[43] |
10 | Chile | 27 December 1945[44] |
11 | Brazil | 1945[45] |
12 | Philippines | 4 July 1946[46] |
13 | South Africa | August 1946[47] |
14 | Ireland | 15 October 1946[48] |
15 | Sri Lanka | 29 April 1947[49] |
16 | Norway | 23 June 1947[50] |
17 | Pakistan | 15 August 1947[51] |
18 | Denmark | 12 September 1947[52][53] |
19 | Belgium | 10 October 1947[54] |
20 | Uruguay | 15 December 1948[55] |
21 | Israel | 29 January 1949[56] |
22 | Indonesia | 5 March 1949[57] |
23 | Finland | 31 May 1949[58] |
24 | Italy | 24 November 1949[59] |
25 | Egypt | 9 March 1950[60] |
26 | Cambodia | 15 January 1952[61] |
27 | Laos | 16 January 1952[62] |
28 | Germany | 28 January 1952[63] |
29 | Austria | October 1952[64] |
30 | Thailand | 19 December 1952[65] |
31 | Greece | 30 March 1953[66] |
32 | Myanmar | 1 August 1953[67] |
33 | Malaysia | 31 August 1957[68] |
34 | Ghana | 21 February 1958[69] |
35 | Argentina | 10 December 1959[70] |
36 | Nepal | 15 February 1960[71] |
37 | Portugal | 4 August 1960[72] |
38 | Nigeria | 10 September 1960[73] |
39 | Switzerland | 3 June 1961[74] |
40 | South Korea | October 1961[75] |
41 | Tanzania | 12 May 1962[76] |
42 | Peru | 1 March 1963[77] |
43 | Sweden | 1963[78] |
44 | Malta | 21 September 1964[79] |
45 | Singapore | 18 August 1965[80] |
46 | Kenya | 23 August 1965[81] |
47 | Uganda | 23 August 1965[81] |
48 | Ethiopia | 13 December 1965[82] |
49 | Mexico | 14 March 1966[83] |
50 | Serbia | 25 April 1966[84] |
51 | Lebanon | 5 February 1967[85] |
52 | Spain | 26 October 1967[86] |
53 | Romania | 18 March 1968[87] |
54 | Turkey | April 1968[88] |
55 | Iran | 21 September 1968[89] |
56 | Afghanistan | 30 March 1969[90] |
57 | Luxembourg | 18 September 1970[91] |
58 | Mauritius | 25 September 1970[92] |
59 | Fiji | 10 October 1970[93] |
60 | Tonga | 3 December 1970[94] |
61 | Samoa | 31 March 1971[95] |
62 | Bangladesh | 31 January 1972[96] |
63 | Poland | 20 February 1972[97] |
64 | Bulgaria | 5 April 1972[98] |
65 | Hungary | 6 April 1972[99] |
66 | Bahrain | 24 April 1972[100] |
67 | Zambia | 18 May 1972[101] |
68 | Czech Republic | 18 June 1972[102] |
69 | Mongolia | 15 September 1972[103] |
70 | Nauru | 21 November 1972[104] |
71 | China | 21 December 1972[105] |
72 | Vietnam | 26 February 1973[106] |
— | Holy See | 24 March 1973[107] |
73 | Venezuela | 31 March 1973[108] |
74 | Cyprus | 6 April 1973[109] |
75 | Guyana | 14 May 1973[110] |
76 | Botswana | 9 July 1973[111] |
77 | Eswatini | 9 July 1973[112] |
78 | Lesotho | 9 July 1973[112] |
79 | Iraq | 2 December 1973[113] |
80 | Oman | 18 December 1973[114] |
81 | Jamaica | 6 January 1974[115] |
82 | Bahamas | 7 January 1974[116] |
83 | Barbados | 7 January 1974[117] |
84 | Guatemala | 7 January 1974[118] |
85 | Trinidad and Tobago | 7 January 1974[119] |
86 | Maldives | 25 January 1974[120] |
87 | Sudan | 8 February 1974[121] |
88 | Panama | 20 February 1974[122] |
89 | Kuwait | 1 July 1974[123] |
90 | Algeria | 8 July 1974[124] |
91 | Costa Rica | July 1974[125] |
92 | Madagascar | 22 August 1974[126] |
93 | Ivory Coast | 17 September 1974[127] |
94 | Senegal | 26 September 1974[128] |
95 | Paraguay | 2 December 1974[129] |
96 | Saudi Arabia | 15 December 1974[130] |
97 | North Korea | 31 December 1974[131] |
98 | Colombia | 9 January 1975[132] |
99 | Ecuador | 3 February 1975[133] |
100 | United Arab Emirates | 10 March 1975[134] |
101 | Bolivia | 10 April 1975[135] |
102 | Jordan | 29 April 1975[136] |
103 | Syria | 12 May 1975[136] |
104 | Papua New Guinea | 16 September 1975[137] |
105 | Seychelles | 29 June 1976[138] |
106 | Morocco | 13 July 1976[139] |
107 | Tunisia | 17 February 1977[140] |
108 | Tuvalu | 30 November 1977[141] |
109 | Libya | 4 January 1978[142] |
110 | Solomon Islands | 7 July 1978[143] |
111 | Kiribati | 12 July 1979[144] |
112 | Grenada | 18 December 1979[145] |
113 | Qatar | 1 May 1980[142] |
114 | Zimbabwe | 15 May 1980[146] |
115 | Vanuatu | 30 July 1980[147] |
116 | Yemen | 20 December 1980[142] |
117 | Sierra Leone | 9 October 1981[148] |
118 | Belize | 17 January 1982[149] |
119 | Gambia | 15 February 1982[150] |
120 | Mozambique | 11 June 1982[151] |
121 | Dominica | 1982[152] |
122 | Saint Lucia | 1982[153] |
123 | Malawi | 1 July 1983[154] |
124 | Comoros | 27 July 1983[155] |
125 | El Salvador | 5 December 1983[156][157] |
126 | Nicaragua | 5 December 1983[157] |
127 | Brunei | 1 January 1984[158] |
128 | Iceland | 12 February 1984[159] |
129 | Mali | 15 March 1984[160] |
130 | Honduras | 10 July 1984[161] |
131 | Albania | 16 September 1984[162] |
132 | Gabon | 20 October 1984[163] |
133 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 31 January 1986[164] |
134 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 1986[165] |
135 | Marshall Islands | 8 July 1987[166] |
136 | Angola | 30 March 1988[167] |
137 | Federated States of Micronesia | 6 July 1988[168] |
138 | Cuba | 31 January 1989[169] |
139 | Latvia | 27 August 1991[170] |
140 | Lithuania | 6 November 1991[171] |
141 | Estonia | 21 November 1991[172] |
142 | Kyrgyzstan | 26 December 1991[173] |
143 | Tajikistan | 26 December 1991[174] |
144 | Uzbekistan | 26 December 1991[175] |
145 | Belarus | 9 January 1992[176] |
146 | Ukraine | 10 January 1992[177] |
147 | Armenia | 15 January 1992[178] |
148 | Slovenia | 5 February 1992[179] |
149 | Croatia | 13 February 1992[180] |
150 | Moldova | 1 April 1992[181] |
151 | Turkmenistan | 14 May 1992[182] |
152 | Azerbaijan | 19 June 1992[183] |
153 | Kazakhstan | 22 June 1992[184] |
154 | Georgia | 16 July 1992[185] |
155 | Slovakia | 1 January 1993[186] |
156 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 7 January 1993[187] |
157 | Eritrea | 24 November 1993[188] |
158 | Namibia | 8 June 1994[189] |
159 | Palau | 1 October 1994[190] |
— | Cook Islands | 1994[191] |
160 | Andorra | 2 March 1995[192] |
161 | San Marino | 13 September 1995[193] |
162 | North Macedonia | 20 October 1995[194] |
163 | Suriname | 19 January 1996[195] |
164 | Dominican Republic | 22 April 1997[196] |
165 | Liechtenstein | 1997[197] |
166 | Haiti | 2000[198] |
167 | Mauritania | 13 December 2001[199] |
168 | Cameroon | 2 March 2002[200] |
169 | East Timor | 20 May 2002[201] |
170 | Bhutan | 14 September 2002[195] |
171 | Montenegro | 1 September 2006[202] |
172 | Monaco | 3 May 2007[203] |
173 | Rwanda | 9 May 2007[204] |
174 | Burkina Faso | 13 November 2008[195] |
— | Kosovo | 21 May 2008[205] |
175 | Djibouti | 23 April 2009[204] |
176 | Republic of the Congo | 7 May 2009[195] |
177 | Niger | 7 May 2009[195] |
178 | São Tomé and Príncipe | 8 July 2009[195] |
179 | Togo | 22 July 2009[195] |
180 | Equatorial Guinea | 23 July 2009[195] |
181 | Cape Verde | 22 September 2009[206] |
182 | Liberia | 26 September 2009[195] |
183 | Central African Republic | 18 January 2010[195] |
184 | Somalia | 20 April 2010[207] |
185 | Benin | 22 September 2010[208] |
186 | Guinea | 9 September 2011[209] |
187 | South Sudan | 24 September 2011[210] |
188 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 2011[211] |
— | Niue | 27 February 2014[212] |
189 | Antigua and Barbuda | Unknown |
190 | Burundi | Unknown |
191 | Chad | Unknown |
192 | Guinea-Bissau | Unknown |
Bilateral relations edit
Africa edit
Country | Formal relations began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Algeria | 8 July 1974[124] |
|
Angola | 30 May 1988[214] |
|
Benin | 11 September 2010[217] | |
Botswana | 9 July 1973[218] |
|
Burkina Faso | 13 November 2008[221] |
|
Burundi | ||
Cape Verde | 22 September 2009[225] |
|
Cameroon | 2 March 2002[226] |
|
Central African Republic | 18 January 2010[228] |
|
Chad | 2007 |
|
Comoros | 27 July 1983[229] |
|
Congo | 7 May 2009[231] |
|
Democratic Republic of the Congo | 2011 |
|
Djibouti |
| |
Egypt | 8 April 1950, severed diplomatic relations from 6 November 1956 to 19 October 1959 | See Australia–Egypt relations
|
Equatorial Guinea | 23 July 2009[239] |
|
Eritrea | 24 November 1993 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 November 1993 when first Eritrea's Ambassador to Australia Mr. Fessehaie Abraham presented his credentials[188]
|
Eswatini | 9 July 1973[218] |
|
Ethiopia | 13 December 1965[242] |
|
Gabon | 20 October 1984 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 October 1984 when Mr. A. R.Taylor, presented his letter of credence as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to Gabon.[163]
|
Gambia | February 15, 1982[252] |
|
Ghana | 6 December 1957 |
|
Guinea |
| |
Guinea-Bissau |
| |
Ivory Coast | 17 September 1974[258] |
|
Kenya | 23 August 1965 | See Australia–Kenya relations
|
Lesotho | 9 July 1973[218] |
|
Liberia | 26 September 2008[267][268] |
|
Libya | 2 January 1978, broke off 19 May 1987, Restored in June 2002 | See Australia–Libya relations
|
Madagascar | 22 August 1974[281] |
|
Malawi | 1 July 1983 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 July 1983 when Mr. I. L. James, the first High Commissioner of Australia to Malawi presented his letters of credentials.[154]
|
Mali | 15 March 1984 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 March 1984 when first non-resident Ambassador of Mali to Australia Mr. Boubacar Toure presented his credentials[160] |
Mauritania | 13 December 2001 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 December 2001.[199]
|
Mauritius | 25 September 1970[92] |
|
Morocco | 13 July 1976[139] | See Australia–Morocco relations
|
Mozambique | 7 June 1982[290] |
|
Namibia | 1990 |
|
Niger | 7 May 2009[294] |
|
Nigeria | 1 October 1960 |
|
Rwanda | 2007 |
|
São Tomé and Príncipe | 8 July 2009[305] |
|
Senegal | 26 September 1974[258] | See Australia–Senegal relations
|
Seychelles | 29 June 1976 |
|
Sierra Leone | 9 October 1981[314] |
|
Somalia | 2010 |
|
South Africa | 8 May 1946 | See Australia–South Africa relations
|
South Sudan | 24 September 2011 |
|
Sudan | 8 February 1974[328] |
|
Tanzania | 11 May 1962 |
|
Togo | 22 July 2009[336] |
|
Tunisia | 17 February 1977[140] |
|
Uganda | 23 August 1965[261] |
|
Zambia | 1972 |
|
Zimbabwe | 18 April 1980 | See Australia–Zimbabwe relations
|
Americas edit
Country | Formal relations began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Antigua and Barbuda |
| |
Argentina | December 10, 1959 | See Argentina–Australia relations
|
Bahamas | 7 January 1974 |
|
Barbados | 7 January 1974 | See Australia–Barbados relations
|
Belize | 17 January 1982 |
|
Bolivia | 10 April 1975[354] |
|
Brazil | 7 June 1945 | See Australia–Brazil relations
|
Canada | 12 September 1939 | See Australia–Canada relations
|
Chile | 27 December 1945 | See Australia–Chile relations
|
Colombia | 9 September 1975 |
|
Costa Rica | 15 October 1974 |
|
Cuba | 31 January 1989 |
|
Dominica |
| |
Dominican Republic | 22 April 1997 |
|
Ecuador |
| |
El Salvador | 5 December 1983 | See Australia–El Salvador relations
|
Grenada |
| |
Guatemala | 7 January 1974 |
|
Guyana | 7 January 1974 |
|
Haiti | 2000 |
|
Honduras | 10 July 1984 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 July 1984 when Mr. Cavan Hogue, Australian Ambassador presented his credentials to President of Honduras Roberto Suazo Cordova.[161]
|
Jamaica | 7 January 1974 |
|
Mexico | 14 March 1966[385] | See Australia–Mexico relations
|
Nicaragua | 1987 |
|
Panama | 1974 |
|
Paraguay | 30 November 1974 | See Australia–Paraguay relations
|
Peru | 1 March 1963 |
|
Saint Kitts and Nevis | 6 February 1986 |
|
Saint Lucia | 1982[396] |
|
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 31 January 1986 |
|
Suriname | 3 February 1994[399] |
|
Trinidad and Tobago | 7 January 1974[350] |
|
United States | 8 January 1940 | See Australia–United States relations While Australia has emphasised its relationship with the United States since 1942, as Britain's influence in Asia declined. At the governmental level, United-States-Australia relations are formalized by the ANZUS treaty and the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement.
|
Uruguay | 1948 | See Australia–Uruguay relations
|
Venezuela | 31 May 1973[404] |
|
Asia edit
Country | Formal relations began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Afghanistan | 30 March 1969[410] |
|
Armenia | 15 January 1992 | See Armenia–Australia relations
|
Azerbaijan | 19 June 1992 | See Australia–Azerbaijan relations
|
Bahrain | 13 April 1987 |
|
Bangladesh | 31 January 1972 | See Australia–Bangladesh relations
|
Bhutan | 14 September 2002[434] |
|
Brunei | 1 January 1984 | See Australia–Brunei relations
|
Cambodia | 15 January 1952 | See Australia–Cambodia relations
|
China | 21 December 1972 | See Australia–China relations
|
Georgia | 16 July 1992 |
|
India | 1941 | See Australia–India relations[461]
|
Indonesia | 17 March 1950 | See Australia–Indonesia relations
|
Iran | 21 September 1968 |
|
Iraq | 2 December 1973 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 December 1973[113]
|
Israel | 11 May 1949 | See Australia–Israel relations
|
Japan | 14 September 1940 (broken from 8 December 1941 to 28 April 1952) | See Australia–Japan relations Australia-Japan relations are generally warm, substantial and driven by mutual interests, and have expanded beyond strong economic and commercial links to other spheres, including culture, tourism, defence and scientific co-operation. |
Jordan | 28 April 1975 |
|
Kazakhstan | 22 June 1992 |
|
Kuwait | 1 July 1974[123] |
|