Australian Foreign Minister discusses the future of Australian Foreign Policy at King's
Australia’s Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, came to King’s College London to discuss the future of Australian Foreign Policy and the opportunities for the UK after Brexit.
The Menzies Centre for Australian Studies, in partnership with The Policy Institute, welcomed the Australian Foreign Minister, the Hon. Julie Bishop MP here to King’s College London. The Minister spoke about the future of Australian Foreign Policy in a speech entitled ‘Australian Foreign Policy White Paper: preserving the rules-based order’.
It was the first major speech by the Australian Foreign Minister in the UK following the Brexit vote and sought to tackle the challenges that the UK and Australia face in the 21st century. The Minister spoke about the continued partnership between the UK and Australia, including the possibility of the UK joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership following its departure from the EU. She noted that ‘In the pre and post Brexit world, there are opportunities for Australia and the UK to reinvigorate our historically close relationship’.
The Minister also spoke about the importance of strengthening partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region: ‘While Australia’s interests are undoubtedly global, we have identified the Indo-Pacific as our region of priority, and to keep it peaceful and prosperous at a time of change’. This comes after continued tensions on the Korean peninsula.
The speech was attended by staff and students, as well as policy makers and press.
The Minister was welcomed to King’s College London by Principal Byrne, who was also joined by heads of mission including: HE The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae GNZM, QSO, KStJ, High Commissioner for New Zealand; HE Mr Joonkook Hwang, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea; HE Mr Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha, High Commissioner for India; Mr Adam Mulawarman Tugio, Deputy Chief Mission, Indonesian Embassy; Ms Reiko Kurihara, Second Secretary, Japanese Embassy.