James Skinner
James is the Founder & Chief Executive of
CANZUK International in Vancouver, Canada
The AUKMIN (Australia-United Kingdom Ministerial) meeting is an important gathering of senior officials from Australia and the UK to discuss foreign policy and defense issues.
It has been held annually since 2006, with 11 meetings taking place to date. However, the event was disrupted by the Brexit-related postponement and the COVID-19 pandemic, causing a four-year lapse.
Next week, Deputy Prime Minister Marles and Foreign Minister Wong will meet with UK Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs James Cleverly. This will be the first AUKMIN meeting for the Albanese and Sunak governments, and newly appointed Australian High Commissioner Stephen Smith will also be in attendance for his first official duty. Smith’s appointment, who is co-leading the Australian government’s near-complete Defense Strategic Review and is a former Defense Minister and Foreign Minister, highlights the UK’s perceived significance in implementing Australia’s strategic policy.
Next week, Deputy Prime Minister Marles and Foreign Minister Wong will meet with UK Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs James Cleverly. This will be the first AUKMIN meeting for the Albanese and Sunak governments, and newly appointed Australian High Commissioner Stephen Smith will also be in attendance for his first official duty. Smith’s appointment, who is co-leading the Australian government’s near-complete Defense Strategic Review and is a former Defense Minister and Foreign Minister, highlights the UK’s perceived significance in implementing Australia’s strategic policy.
In the past year, the Australia-UK partnership has become increasingly relevant, with the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement progressing into law, the announcement of a bilateral submariner training program, and the first AUKUS Defense Ministerial being held (between the UK, Australia and the United States).
During the AUKMIN meeting, the two countries are expected to discuss their continued support for Ukraine. The UK is the second largest military donor to Ukraine, and is interested in maintaining Australia’s related support. The recent announcement that Australian troops will join an international mission in the UK to provide training to the Ukrainian Armed Forces is significant for the alliance, both in promoting the message of a global coalition of democracies and in its deterrent effects for other regions of concern.
The AUKMIN meeting may also provide an opportunity for the two countries to collaborate on skilled labor mobility. The Australian government is concerned about ongoing workforce constraints, and the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement will enable expedited visa arrangements. The meeting may also provide an opportunity to remove further barriers to pool talent and address capability and skills gaps.
Additionally, the meeting provides an opportunity for the two nations to build on their progress in technology and innovation, including the UK-Australia Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership, which was introduced in 2022 to manage opportunities and challenges in these areas. The partnership’s priorities include maintaining an open, free, peaceful, and secure internet, and there may be opportunities for novel cooperation in areas such as maritime digital infrastructure resilience, particularly in Southeast Asia, which has a significant concentration of undersea cables and other crucial elements of global data flows that support the internet.
CANZUK International looks forward to the AUKMIN meeting and will closely monitor diplomatic developments between Australia and the United Kingdom relevant to labour mobility and trade.
During the AUKMIN meeting, the two countries are expected to discuss their continued support for Ukraine. The UK is the second largest military donor to Ukraine, and is interested in maintaining Australia’s related support. The recent announcement that Australian troops will join an international mission in the UK to provide training to the Ukrainian Armed Forces is significant for the alliance, both in promoting the message of a global coalition of democracies and in its deterrent effects for other regions of concern.
The AUKMIN meeting may also provide an opportunity for the two countries to collaborate on skilled labor mobility. The Australian government is concerned about ongoing workforce constraints, and the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement will enable expedited visa arrangements. The meeting may also provide an opportunity to remove further barriers to pool talent and address capability and skills gaps.
Additionally, the meeting provides an opportunity for the two nations to build on their progress in technology and innovation, including the UK-Australia Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership, which was introduced in 2022 to manage opportunities and challenges in these areas. The partnership’s priorities include maintaining an open, free, peaceful, and secure internet, and there may be opportunities for novel cooperation in areas such as maritime digital infrastructure resilience, particularly in Southeast Asia, which has a significant concentration of undersea cables and other crucial elements of global data flows that support the internet.
CANZUK International looks forward to the AUKMIN meeting and will closely monitor diplomatic developments between Australia and the United Kingdom relevant to labour mobility and trade.
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