Omari Gates
Australia has strong connections with many countries around the world. Its foreign policy is guided by a commitment to multilateralism and regionalism, as well as building strong bilateral relations with its allies. Australia has devoted particular attention to promoting regional architecture centred around the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and has a longstanding alliance with the United States of America. In 2021, Australia also signed a significant security partnership with the United Kingdom and the United States (AUKUS). Australia has a close relationship with New Zealand, and other Pacific nations such as Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Samoa. Australia also has strong economic ties with China.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Countries with which Australia has a strong relationship | United States of America, New Zealand, United Kingdom, China, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, Afghanistan, Syria |
| Organisations with which Australia has strong ties | ASEAN, the Commonwealth of Nations, the United Nations |
| Economic characteristics of Australia's international relationships | Australia is a leading trading nation, with the United States as its largest foreign investor. Bilateral direct investment (FDI) cumulatively totals nearly US $230 billion. Australia is also a standout destination for global investors, with the stock of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Australia rising by an average of 7.1% each year since 2003. |
| Security characteristics of Australia's international relationships | Australia has a security partnership with the United States, United Kingdom, and New Zealand (ANZUS). Australia also has a security partnership with Japan, and a security cooperation agreement with Papua New Guinea. |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's security partnerships with the US and UK
Australia has devoted attention to promoting regional architecture centred on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, supporting dialogue on political, security, and economic challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. Australia has a longstanding alliance with the United States of America, and Australians and Americans have fought side by side in every major U.S. military conflict of the past century. This close partnership was formalised with the Australia, New Zealand, United States (ANZUS) Security Treaty of 1951, which remains the foundation of the security relationship between the two countries.
The United States is Australia's defence goods and services partner of choice, and Australia is one of America's largest defence customers. In 2020, Australia's Defence Strategic Update increased its 10-year defence budget by 40% to $186 billion, and the U.S. has over $27 billion in active government-to-government sales cases with Australia.
In 2021, Australia signed a significant security partnership with the United Kingdom and the United States, called AUKUS, aimed at upholding security in the Indo-Pacific region. The first initiative under this partnership is collaboration on nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy. AUKUS will also foster deeper integration of security and defence-related science, technology, industrial bases, and supply chains.
Australia has a warm relationship with Fiji, underpinned by strong people-to-people links, longstanding economic and development ties, and shared community, historical, sporting, religious, and family ties. Australia and France work closely with French Polynesia to improve maritime security, enhance resilience to climate change, and improve people-to-people links through education and tourism. Australia has a longstanding relationship with Kiribati, built on shared development and security goals, and it also shares a strong history and common security vision with Nauru. Australia and New Caledonia have broad and historic relations, with strong people-to-people links, including indigenous cultural connections, and long-running defence and security partnerships.
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Australia's economic ties with China
Australia has been focusing on strengthening its relationship with Asian countries in recent decades, with a particular emphasis on economic cooperation with Asia.
China and Australia have a dynamic and evolving relationship marked by robust economic ties and strategic cooperation. In 2007, China became Australia's largest trading partner, and in 2009, it became Australia's largest export market. Two-way trade between the countries has grown from less than $100 million to over $100 billion. Australia is China's seventh-largest trading partner and supplies essential resources that drive China's economic growth.
The bilateral economic relationship continues to develop rapidly, with recent years seeing a resurgence in trade and investment. High-level visits and meetings between the two countries demonstrate the strength and importance of their bilateral relationship. For example, in August 2010, Australian and Chinese scientists and policymakers celebrated 'Partners for a Better Future: Australia-China Science and Technology Week' at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. In July 2025, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese concluded his second official visit to China, focusing on regional security tensions and economic ties.
Beyond economic exchanges, diplomatic ties between China and Australia are crucial for regional stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Both countries have recently demonstrated a renewed willingness to engage and rebuild their economic partnership, with shared priorities in areas such as e-commerce, sustainability, clean energy, and climate change presenting additional opportunities for cooperation. For instance, since concluding a joint statement on closer cooperation in 2008, Australia and China have held two annual Ministerial Dialogues on Climate Change.
However, the relationship between China and Australia has also faced challenges and strategic differences. In 2020, China announced temporary anti-dumping tariffs on Australian wine, and shipments of Australian live lobsters, timber, and barley were restricted. China's embassy listed grievances with Australia, including the blocking of Chinese investments on national security grounds. Despite these tensions, recent diplomatic efforts have reflected a mutual recognition of the importance of their economic relationship, and China has since lifted tariffs on Australian wine and beef.
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Australia's Pacific partnerships
Australia has strong relationships with several countries in the Pacific region.
Papua New Guinea
Geography and history have given Papua New Guinea a unique position in Australia's foreign relations. The two countries work together at the highest levels to maximise bilateral and regional stability and prosperity, including through their Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnership.
Republic of Marshall Islands
Australia and the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) have a close bilateral relationship based on shared regional interests. Australia was the second country to establish diplomatic relations with the RMI in 1987, after the US.
Samoa
Australia and Samoa work closely together towards a shared vision for a prosperous, stable, and sovereign Pacific region. Their relationship is built on strong people connections, sustained high-level engagement, and a commitment to increased economic growth and human development.
Fiji
Australia has a warm relationship with Fiji, underpinned by strong people-to-people links, longstanding economic and development ties, and shared community, historical, sporting, religious, and family ties. The Vuvale Partnership affirms Australia and Fiji's shared ambition to use their family connection as the basis for a new, higher level of cooperation.
French Polynesia
Australia and French Polynesia enjoy longstanding, friendly relations that were further enhanced with the opening of a new Australian diplomatic post in Papeete in 2021. Recognising French Polynesia's location and extensive maritime domain, Australia works closely with France and French Polynesia to improve maritime security, enhance resilience to climate change, and improve people-to-people links through education and tourism.
Kiribati
Australia has a longstanding relationship with Kiribati, built on shared development and security goals. The two countries work in partnership to implement economic reform and build a better-educated and healthier population.
Nauru
Australia and Nauru share a strong history and common security vision, as outlined in the 2017 Nauru-Australia Security Partnership. They work together to promote human development, good governance, and essential infrastructure in Nauru.
New Caledonia
Australia and New Caledonia have broad and historic relations, with 2020 marking the 80th anniversary of diplomatic representation. New Caledonia is one of Australia's closest geographical neighbours, with strong people-to-people links, including indigenous cultural connections, and long-running defence and security partnerships.
Tuvalu
Australia has a warm relationship with Tuvalu, founded on mutual respect, understanding, and shared values. The two countries cooperate closely on security and development and are working together to combat the effects of climate change, build resilient communities, and protect the environment.
Vanuatu
Australia and Vanuatu enjoy close and broad connections at all levels, across government, business, and the community. They share a vision for security and prosperity and work towards this through a focus on economic governance, infrastructure, education, health, and law and justice.
Wallis and Futuna
Australia's partnerships in the Pacific extend to the most remote and least developed of the French Pacific territories, Wallis and Futuna. Through its Direct Aid Program, Australia funds a range of small-scale projects that have a direct impact on communities.
In addition to its Pacific partnerships, Australia has also sought to strengthen its relationships with Asian countries in recent decades, with a particular focus on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Australia has a longstanding alliance with the United States, and the two countries have a robust relationship underpinned by shared democratic values, common interests, and cultural affinities. Australia and the US work closely together on defence and security, economic and trade relations, and tourism. Australia is also a crucial partner in the US space program.
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Australia's relationship with Asian countries
Australia has been working to strengthen its relationship with Asian countries in recent decades, with this becoming a focus of the country's diplomatic missions. Australia's foreign policy is guided by a commitment to multilateralism and regionalism, as well as building strong bilateral relations with its allies.
Australia has devoted particular attention to promoting regional architecture centred around the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and has maintained significant ties with the organisation. It actively participates in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the ASEAN-sponsored East Asia Summit. Australia has also been an active member of the Asian Development Bank since its founding in 1966 and continues to play an active role as the region's second-largest shareholder.
In 2014, Australia and China agreed to describe their relationship as a "comprehensive strategic partnership", facilitating an extensive program of engagement. This partnership went into dormancy around 2020 but has been gradually revived since 2023. Australia has also established a strong and broad-ranging security relationship with Japan under the 2022 Australia-Japan Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation.
Australia has a large multicultural community with people from a range of Asian backgrounds, and many Australians possess bilingual and bicultural abilities. This provides Australia with the skills and knowledge to build and strengthen its relationship with Asian countries. Australia's connection with Asia is also evident through its successful migration history and the existence of cultural hubs across the country.
In terms of economic relations, Australia has strong economic ties with Asian countries. During the 1997-98 financial crisis, Australia committed to providing financial assistance in the form of $1 billion loans each to Thailand, Indonesia, and Korea. Australia's commitment to the region's stability was further demonstrated by its response to the Bali events, recognising that Asia's security problems and future are intertwined with its own. Australia also signed a defence procurement deal worth $1 billion AUD with South Korea in 2021, upgrading their relationship to a "comprehensive strategic partnership".
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Australia's membership in international organisations
Australia has devoted attention to promoting regional architecture centred around the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and has strong ties with ASEAN member states. Australia is an active participant in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the ASEAN-sponsored East Asia Summit.
Australia has a close relationship with the United States, with the two countries sharing mutual interests in maintaining freedom of navigation and addressing terrorism and violent extremism. The Australia, New Zealand, and United States (ANZUS) Security Treaty is Australia's most important security alliance, and the two countries have a strong defence partnership, with the US being Australia's largest foreign investor. Australia and the US also have a history of working together in significant conflicts, including World War I, World War II, and Afghanistan. In 2018, the two countries celebrated 100 years of "mateship".
Australia also has a longstanding alliance with New Zealand, with ties dating back to the 1800s. Australia has a warm relationship with Fiji, underpinned by strong people-to-people links, economic and development ties, and shared community, historical, sporting, religious, and family ties. Australia and France work closely together on matters of maritime security and climate resilience in the Pacific region.
Australia has a close bilateral relationship with the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI), being the second country to establish diplomatic relations with them in 1987. Australia also has longstanding ties with New Caledonia, celebrating 80 years of diplomatic representation in 2020, and a longstanding relationship with Kiribati, built on shared development and security goals. Australia and Papua New Guinea have a special relationship, working together at the highest levels to maximise bilateral and regional stability and prosperity.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia has strong relationships with many countries, but its closest allies include the United States, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The US-Australia alliance is a robust relationship underpinned by shared democratic values, common interests, and cultural affinities. The two countries have a strong defence and security partnership, with the US being Australia's largest foreign investor.
Australia has a longstanding alliance with New Zealand, with whom they signed the Australia, New Zealand, and United States (ANZUS) Security Treaty in 1951. Australia also has a security partnership with Japan, and a trilateral security dialogue with the US and Japan.
Australia has strong ties with many ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore. Australia is also an active participant in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the ASEAN-sponsored East Asia Summit.
In 2014, Australia and China agreed to describe their relationship as a "comprehensive strategic partnership". This partnership went into dormancy in 2020 but has been gradually improving since 2023.
