SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you, Richard. First, for Lloyd, for me, being here with the both of you,
with not just the important professional relationship that we have but,
as you both said, the genuine friendship makes all the difference in the world. Penny,
to your point that we’re living in incredibly challenging times, that only underscores
how vitally important it is for the United States to have this remarkable alliance,
this remarkable friendship with Australia. We have no greater or more valuable ally;
I think that’s only been reconfirmed by the talks we’ve had over the last – the last couple of days.
Like my colleagues, I also have to start by saying that our hearts are full, full of concern
for the four Australian servicemen whose helicopter crashed last night. And our hearts are
full too because they were performing their duties alongside American servicemen and women to further
strengthen our alliance, our partnership, and the work we’re doing together around the world.
They have been on our minds throughout today; they remain very much on our minds right now.
I’d also like to say, for me, as a point of almost personal privilege,
returning here to Australia has real significance.
My late stepfather, Samuel Pisar, went to secondary school in Australia and received
his undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne. His time here profoundly shaped
him. He was literally saved, rescued, by Australia after the Holocaust, having survived concentration
camps. And so this country will always hold a very special place for me and for my family.
It holds a special place in the hearts of so many Americans. Indeed,
in Australia, Americans know they have one of their dearest friends,
one of their staunchest allies, one of their closest partners. For over seven decades now,
we have worked closely together as allies – and, indeed, this is our 33rd such consultation.
And I agree very much with what Richard and Penny both said: Our relationship
has never been stronger or more important for us and, I would argue, for the world.
Chief among our discussions today was the shared commitment that we have to advance a free, open,
secure, prosperous, resilient, and connected Indo-Pacific.
But what do we actually mean by that? We mean a region where countries are free to chart their
own path and to choose partners – where issues are dealt with openly, transparently; rules are
decided together, they’re applied fairly; goods, ideas, and people can flow lawfully and freely.
The Joint Statement makes clear that both the United States and Australia
are committed to that goal, to that vision, and to realizing it through the work that
we’re doing together bilaterally as well as through revitalized and in some cases
new coalitions and partnerships that we’ve established throughout the region.
We’re deepening our collaboration through the Quad, where – alongside India and Japan – we’re
actually delivering concrete results for our people on priorities like promoting health
security, shaping the future of critical and emerging technologies in a way that
aligns with our values and interests, enhancing maritime domain awareness,
the capacity of countries to understand what’s happening in the waters around them,
and connecting more people to the Internet and to telecommunications infrastructure.
One of the ways I’d note that we’re doing that is through the Quad Partnership for
Cable Connectivity and Resilience, where Australia’s leadership is helping to
connect more people to trusted and secure underseas cable systems. This is really
the world’s “information superhighway,” and is critical to growth and prosperity.
We’re elevating our engagement with Pacific Islands Forum,
where we’re partnering on shared priorities like promoting sustainable and inclusive
economic growth and making our communities more resilient to climate change. The United
States is committed to broader and deeper cooperation with Pacific Island
countries – which is why Secretary Austin, Second Gentleman Emhoff, Secretary Haaland,
and I have each visited different Pacific Island countries just in the past week alone.
On AUKUS, we are building on the momentum from President Biden, Prime Minister Albanese,
and Prime Minister Sunak’s meeting in San Diego in March. Earlier this month, the first group of
Royal Australian Navy officers graduated from the United States Navy’s Nuclear Power School,
where they’ve been trained to safely operate conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines.
At the same time, our two countries are defending the international rules-based
order, which has underwritten peace and security for decades,
and which ensures that each country can make its own sovereign decisions, free from any coercion.
We’re doing that in part by engaging China, but also, as necessary, opposing its
efforts to disrupt freedom of navigation and overflight in the South and East China Seas,
to upend the status quo that has preserved peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,
to pressure countries through economic coercion or threats to their citizens.
We’re also united in supporting Ukraine against Russia’s brutal war of aggression.
Australia’s assistance continues to be critical to the fight for Ukraine’s sovereignty,
for its territorial integrity, for its future. Today we discussed and condemned
Russia’s weaponization of food, including its recent decision to end its participation in
the Black Sea Grain Initiative and its continued bombardment of Ukrainians’ export infrastructure.
I’d just note that over 35 million tons of food products had been exported through the Black Sea
Grain Initiative – that’s the equivalent of 18 billion loaves of bread – with nearly two-thirds
going to the developing world. The decision made by Russia to tear up
this agreement is hurting millions who depend on Ukraine’s grain and wheat, as well as those,
even if not directly receiving that grain and wheat, who benefit from the fact that
with that wheat and grain on markets, prices are kept in check, kept lower.
Finally, a major focus of our discussion today was on combatting the climate crisis
and accelerating the transformation and transition to clean energy. And
this is where the prime minister and President Biden have together built the third pillar of
the U.S.-Australia alliance, alongside our defense and economic cooperation.
Just last week, Australia joined the First Movers Coalition. This is a group of now 13
countries and 85 companies driving clean energy solutions across historically emissions-intensive
sectors – shipping, trucking, aviation. We’re looking forward to Australia, home to
growing hydro, solar, and wind energy sectors, bringing its resources and innovation to bear.
As President Biden has said, the United States “has no closer or more reliable
ally than Australia.” Today AUSMIN builds on our successful past and
guides our work together to build a stronger, more secure, and more peaceful world for everyone.
Penny and Richard, again to you: Thank you for the partnership, thank you for the friendship. I’m
also gratified that we benefit here in Australia from a remarkable ambassador, Caroline Kennedy.
Glad to be with her. And of course, a not bad Australian ambassador in Washington,
either. It’s wonderful to be with you as well.
So thank you again for very productive ministerial.
Lloyd.