Australia, Canada Pledge Efforts to ‘Avoid War’ in Indo-Pacific

Amid growing security concerns, Australia’s and Canada’s defence ministers vowed to prevent any possible “war” or “tension” in the region.
The two ministers—Bill Blair, Canada’s Minister of National Defence, and Richard Marles, his Australian counterpart—held a bilateral meeting on Aug. 8 to discuss various defence areas where the two nations can strengthen each other and share capabilities.
Targeting Russia and China for their destabilising actions, Blair stated that closely allied nations are “preparing to avoid war.” He also emphasised the unity of Canada and Australia against adversaries like China and Russia, whose actions threaten “global interests in maintaining a peaceful environment.”
Marles supported Blair and said that Canada and Australia’s cooperation is seeking to deter hostile actors, adding that avoiding conflict is “front and centre” as both nations seek to respond to threats in the Indo-Pacific and elsewhere.
Marles, who’s also Australia’s deputy prime minister, was in Vancouver for the bilateral meeting with Blair.
Both countries discussed strategic partnership in key areas, including increased military cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, commitment to regional stability, investment in defence capabilities, and addressing cyber and space threats.
“Canada and Australia are both Pacific nations, and the security of the Indo-Pacific is crucial for the security of both our nations, and today, that security is being challenged in a number of significant and difficult ways,” Blair said.
He criticised the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for pursuing the most ambitious military buildup by any nation since World War II, and added that the regime was “looking to reshape the international system to advance its own interest.”
The Canadian minister further said that his country has significantly ramped up its naval deployments and defence engagement in the region, creating more opportunities for joint training and multilateral exercises for both nations.
The ministers expressed concern over Beijing’s expansive maritime claims, which are inconsistent with international law. They condemned the regime’s aggression in the South China Sea.
The ministers also discussed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, opposing any unilateral changes to the status quo. They called for peaceful dialogue to resolve differences and opposed the use of force or coercion.
The ministers discussed opportunities for mutual learning and training to increase the interoperability of military forces, particularly on shared platforms.
They noted the importance of securing the space domain, pledging to improve the coordination of space operations and enhance the interoperability of space capabilities.
In their joint statement, the ministers reiterated their unwavering support for a sovereign and independent Ukraine, condemning Russia’s illegal and unjustified invasion.
They also voiced concern over the increasing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, urging China and other nations with influence over Russia to exert it to bring an end to the war in Ukraine.