EU and Australia to begin negotiations on security and defence partnership
Brussels and Australia will launch negotiations on a non-binding Security and Defence Partnership to enhance cooperation in areas such as cyber threats, counter-terrorism, and defence industry collaboration.
Brussels and Canberra begin negotiations on a Security and Defence Partnership (SDP). The announcement follows a meeting between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The proposed SDP aims to establish a formal framework for cooperation in a range of security-related areas.
These include defence industry collaboration, counter-terrorism and cyber threats, maritime security, non-proliferation and disarmament, space security, economic security, and responses to hybrid threats.
SDPs are non-binding agreements facilitating enhanced political and operational cooperation between the EU and external partners. They do not include provisions for military deployment.
The European Union maintains SDPs with seven other countries: Albania, Japan, Moldova, North Macedonia, Norway, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. The forthcoming negotiations with Australia would expand this network, potentially increasing coordination on global and regional security issues.
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