Australian Embassy, Brussels

🇦🇺 Honoured to be welcomed to Australia by the Governor-General, H.E. Sam Mostyn. I’m here to celebrate the long-standing friendship between Europe and Australia, and this is the most perfect start to this visit.

Meet Neilesh Syna, Senior Hydrometallurgist at @ANSTO. Australia’s expertise in processing critical minerals like rare earths, lithium & scandium can drive sustainable development. Collaboration with Europe can turn them into high-value clean energy tech.

Australia can help Europe secure reliable, sustainable critical minerals at scale. Meet Lucy O’Connor from the @CSIRO-led Critical Minerals R&D Hub. In this video, Lucy talks about how strengthening international collaboration is a key pillar of the Hub's activities.

Australia supports the EU calling out malicious cyber activity behind significant compromises of devices, and offensive cyber-espionage. This malicious activity threatens the stability and predictability of cyberspace. Australia calls on all cyber actors to act responsibly, and for all States to act in accordance with international law and the norms of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace.

Thank you, Ambassador Olivier, for the warm welcome at the British Residence in Luxembourg. It was a pleasure to meet and exchange views. We appreciate the hospitality and look forward to continued cooperation.

Grateful to Ambassador Nomura for the kind reception at the Japanese Residence in Luxembourg. Our Ambassador truly valued the opportunity to discuss shared objectives and strengthen ties between Australia and Japan.

Collaboration with the EU drives Australian innovation. Meet Michael Sexton of @GeoscienceAus. He highlights how Australia, a leading global producer with high resource potential, is deepening collaboration with European partners to secure supply chains in strategic minerals.

Read the @LowyInstitute Asia Power Index key findings report here: power.lowyinstitute.org/report/

Insightful discussion yesterday on “Shifting Power Trends in Asia – Opportunities for Europe in a Competitive Region.” Thank you Amb. Hong Huai Lim, Amb. Simon Draper, MEP Tobias Cremer, Abigaël Vasselier and Susannah Patton for your interventions on this important topic.

Australia stands with the brave people of Iran in their struggle against oppression. For decades, the Iranian regime has been a destabilising force, through its ballistic missile and nuclear programs, support for armed proxies, and brutal acts of violence and intimidation. Iran directed at least two attacks on Australian soil in 2024. These appalling acts targeting Australia’s Jewish community were intended to create fear, divide our society and challenge our sovereignty. In response, Australia took the unprecedented steps of expelling Iran’s Ambassador, suspending operations at our embassy in Tehran, and listing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a state sponsor of terrorism. Our Government has sanctioned more than 200 Iranian-linked individuals, including more than 100 linked to the IRGC. With international partners, including the United States and the G7, we have called for the Iranian regime to uphold the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Iran’s citizens. These calls have gone unheeded. Instead, the regime has instigated a brutal crackdown on its own people leaving thousands of Iranian civilians dead. A regime that relies on the repression and murder of its own people to retain power is without legitimacy. It has long been recognised that Iran’s nuclear program is a threat to global peace and security. The international community has been clear that the Iranian regime can never beallowed to develop a nuclear weapon. The United Nations Security Council has reimposed sanctions on Iran for failing to comply with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and the International Atomic Energy Agency Board has formally declared Iran in non-compliance with its non-proliferation safeguards obligations. We support the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran continuing to threaten international peace and security. Australian officials are closely monitoring this evolving situation. We continue to advise Australians do not travel to Iran and leave Iran as soon as possible, if it is safe to do so. Our ability to provide consular assistance in Iran is extremely limited. Given our concerns around security in the region, we have also upgraded Australia’s travel advice for Israel and Lebanon to Do Not Travel. Australians should leave now if it is safe to do so. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has activated its Crisis Centre to provide consular support to Australians in the region. Australians requiring urgent consular assistance can contact the Consular Emergency Centre 24/7 on 1300 555 135 in Australia or +61 2 6261 3305 from outside Australia.

Thank you Ambassador Ruge for the constructive discussions today with our friends at @NATO on shared security challenges.

An inspiring event demonstrating how collaboration, world-class science and international partnerships unlock innovation and deliver meaningful outcomes.

@RMIT Europe shared how they are building strong partnerships across Europe - including major Horizon Europe initiatives advancing inclusive and ethical healthcare research.

In the words of Ambassador Angus Campbell: "When partners like Australia and the European Union do research together, science accelerates, innovation multiplies, and our societies are better prepared for the future."