Foreign relations of Australia are influenced by its position as a leading trading nation and as a significant donor of humanitarian aid.Australia's foreign policy is guided by a commitment tomultilateralism andregionalism, as well as to build strong bilateral relations with its allies. Key concerns include free trade, terrorism, refugees, economic co-operation withAsia and stability in theIndo-Pacific. Australia is active in theUnited Nations and theCommonwealth of Nations. Given its history of starting and supporting important regional and global initiatives, it has been described as a regional middle power par excellence.[1]
It maintains significant ties withASEAN and has become steadfastly allied withNew Zealand, through long-standing ties dating back to the 1800s. The country also has a longstanding alliance with the United States of America. Over recent decades Australia has sought to strengthen its relationship with Asian countries, with this becoming the focus of the country's network of diplomatic missions.[2][3][4][5][6][7] In 2021, Australia signed a significant security partnership with the United Kingdom and the United States of America (AUKUS) aimed at upholding security in the Indo-Pacific region.
TheDepartment of External Affairs was one of the inaugural departments created upon thefederation of the Australian colonies in 1901, but largely remained an appendage of thePrime Minister's Department. Outside of the prime minister, the role ofAustralian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (established in 1910) remained the most significant conduit for Australian foreign relations, with its significance emphasised by the fact that the first three appointees were former prime ministers. It has been suggested that, for Australia's early governments, foreign policy meant "relations with London on matters of imperial foreign policy on which Australia might have an interest".[8]
Australia's first prime ministerEdmund Barton was in favour of a uniform foreign policy for the British Empire, suggesting Australia could have no "foreign policy of its own" but expected that the British government would defer to the Australian perspective for "regional" imperial policy.[9] Barton's successorAlfred Deakin also repeatedly lobbied the British government for greater consultation on imperial foreign policy and suggested the establishment of an imperial department of state to coordinate policy, as part of his broader support for anImperial Federation.[10] Deakin took some of the first steps towards diplomatic independence by dealing directly with the Japanese consul-general, for which he was reminded by theColonial Office that it "expected Australia to conduct any dealings with a foreign power through London". He also dealt directly with the U.S. consul in Sydney to engineer the visit of theGreat White Fleet in 1908.[8] His actions "set a precedent for unilateralism" in foreign policy that was followed by his immediate successors as prime minister, although with a continued reliance on the British diplomatic service and policy-making apparatus and no efforts to develop Australian equivalents.[10]
World War I brought about an increase in direct Australian engagement with governments outside the British Empire, prompted by strategic concerns including the fate of German territories in the Pacific captured by Australian troops during the war. Prime MinisterBilly Hughes visited the United States in 1918 and "in a series of meetings and speeches, called on the US to cooperate with Australia in ensuring postwar security in the Far East".[11] At the1919 Paris Peace Conference, Hughes led an Australian section within the British Empire delegation and co-signed theTreaty of Versailles on behalf of Australia, as with other Britishdominions. Hughes lobbied powerfully for Australian interests at the conference, including the granting ofLeague of Nations mandates over the formerGerman New Guinea andNauru and opposition to Japan'sRacial Equality Proposal to protect theWhite Australia policy.[12]
The 1920s marked "the genesis of a distinct Australian foreign policy", largely in response to changing power dynamics and the decline in British influence in the Pacific following theWashington Naval Conference of 1922 influence.[13] Australia continued to rely on "the UK and its imperial machinery for diplomatic representation and economic and material security".[14] Following the1923 Imperial Conference, attempts to formulate a uniform imperial foreign policy were largely abandoned in favour of a system of dominion ratification of British decisions.[15] Governmental interest in foreign policy declined during theGreat Depression as theScullin government concentrated on internal economic matters. In 1929, internationalistFrederic Eggleston complained to aSenate committee that "no parliament which is responsible for its own foreign policy has less discussion on foreign affairs than does the Australian Parliament".[16]
While yet to exchange formal diplomatic representatives, Australia made a number of "quasi-diplomatic" appointments in the post-war period, who functioned as official representatives of the Australian government but held nodiplomatic rank. These included appointment ofHenry Braddon to the United States in 1918 with the title of "commissioner" and the appointment of Clive Voss as "commercial agent" in France in 1919.[17] In 1921, Australia appointed its first official representative in Asia, with the appointment of Edward S. Little as trade commissioner to China, based in Shanghai.[18] SenatorThomas Bakhap undertook a trade mission to China in 1922 at the instigation of Hughes,[19] and in the same year Egbert Sheaf was appointed as a trade commissioner to "the East", based in Singapore.[20] The initial trade commissioner service was partially funded by state governments and ultimately failed due to a lack of support from Prime MinisterStanley Bruce and state premiers.[21]
The appointment of theLyons government in 1932 marked a renewed interest in foreign policy, complemented by the establishment of foreign policy departments at universities and non-governmental advisory bodies like theAustralian Institute of International Affairs. Prime MinisterJoseph Lyons took a keen interest in foreign relations and exerted significant influence over the government's foreign policy.[22] He authorised three "Pacific initiatives" as a sign of greater Australian interest in the Asia-Pacific. The first was theAustralian Eastern Mission of 1934, led by deputy prime ministerJohn Latham, which visited seven Asian countries and has been identified as a milestone in the early development of Australian foreign policy.[23] The second initiative was the appointment in 1935 of Australian representatives in China, the Dutch East Indies, Japan, and United States – albeit below the rank of ambassador – where previously Australia's interests had been represented solely by British officials. The third was Lyons's "Pacific Pact" proposal, which envisioned anon-aggression pact between the major powers in the Pacific. Although he championed the pact at the1937 Imperial Conference, discussions failed to progress.[24] In Bird's opinion, "the Lyons years should thus be seen as a part of the evolution of Australian external policy from dependency towards autonomy […] it is perhaps the continuation and acceleration of the process of transition for which Lyons as Prime Minister ought to be best remembered".[25]
The first accredited diplomat sent to a foreign country wasRichard Casey, appointed as the first Minister to the United States in January 1940.[26] This was followed shortly after by the arrival of the first Australian high commissioner to Canada, and by appointments of Ministers to Japan in 1940 and China in 1941. With the entry of Japan into the war in December 1941 and the failure of British forces at Singapore, there was a genuine fear of an imminent Japanese invasion. The only solution was to come under American protection.[27] Ever since that time, United States has been the most important security ally. The close security relationship with the United States was formalized in 1951 by the Australia, New Zealand, United States Security (ANZUS) Treaty which remains the cornerstone of Australian security arrangements.[28]
In parallel with the evolution of the British Empire to theCommonwealth of Nations, Australia progressively took responsibility for fully managing its foreign relations with other states. Australia concluded an agreement in 1944 with New Zealand dealing with the security, welfare, and advancement of the people of the dependent territories of the Pacific (the ANZAC pact).[29] Australia was one of the founders of theUnited Nations (1945) and theSouth Pacific Commission (1947), and in 1950, it proposed theColombo Plan to assist developing countries in Asia. After the war, Australia played a role in theFar Eastern Commission in Japan and supported Indonesian independence during that country's revolt against the Dutch (1945–49).[30]
As theCold War deepened, Australia aligned itself fully with the Western Powers. In addition to contributing to UN forces in theKorean War – it was the first country to announce it would do so after the United States – Australia sent troops to assist in putting down the communist revolt in Malaya in 1948–60 and later to combat the Indonesian-supported invasion ofSarawak in 1963–65.[31] Australia sent troops to repel communism and assist South Vietnamese and American forces in theVietnam War, in a move that stirred up antiwar activism at home.[32] Australia has been active in theFive Eyes intelligence alliance, and in the Australia – New Zealand –United Kingdom agreement and theFive Power Defence Arrangement—successive arrangements with Britain and New Zealand to ensure the security of Singapore andMalaysia.[citation needed]
After the end of the Cold War, Australia remained an important contributor to UN peacekeeping missions and to other multilateral security missions, often in alliance with the United States. Notably, it joined coalition forces in the PersianGulf War in 1991, theWar in Afghanistan (2001-2021), theIraq War of 2003–2011 and theWar in Iraq (2013-2017). In 1999 Australian peace keeping forces intervened inEast Timor following its referendum to secede from Indonesia. In 2006 Australia sent a contingent of Australian troops to the state to assist in the2006 East Timor crisis.[33] Australia has also most recently[when?] led security assistance, peacekeeping and policing missions elsewhere in its neighbourhood, including in theSolomon Islands,Papua New Guinea andTonga.
In the late 20th Century and early 21st Century, a new element in Australia's foreign relations was the growing relationship with thePeople's Republic of China. After the establishment of diplomatic relations in December 1972, Sino-Australian relations grew rapidly, to a point where China became Australia's main trading partner and extensive official and people-to-people links were well established. In the first 15 years of the 21st Century, Australia maintained privileged relations with both the United States and China.[citation needed] Since 2017, Sino-Australian relations have deteriorated dramatically, as a result of Australian criticism of policies and actions taken underGeneral Secretary of the Chinese Communist PartyXi Jinping.[citation needed] This has strongly influenced recent Australian bilateral and multi-lateral engagements such as the Pacific Step-Up with Pacific Island states, the development of comprehensive strategic partnerships with a number of regional states, and the pursuit of alliances directed at countering Chinese predominance in the Indo-Pacific region. Since 2017, existing security arrangements have been augmented by a revivedQuadrilateral Security Dialogue involving India, Japan and United States, the 2021AUKUS security partnership with the United States and United Kingdom and the 2022 Australia-JapanReciprocal Access Agreement, which provides for closer Australian-Japanese cooperation on defence and humanitarian operations.
One of the drafters of the UN Charter, Australia has given firm support to the United Nations system. Australia held the first Presidency of theSecurity Council in 1946 and provided the first military observers under UN auspices a year later, to Indonesia. It has been a member of theSecurity Council a further four times, in 1956–57, 1973–74, 1986–87 and 2013–14.[34] It has been regularly elected a member of theEconomic and Social Council most recently for 2020–22, a member of theUnited Nations Human Rights Council in 2018–20 and its predecessor theUN Commission on Human Rights in the 1990s. Australia takes a prominent part in many other UN activities, including peacekeeping, disarmament negotiations, and narcotics control. In September 1999, acting under a UN Security Council mandate, Australia led an international coalition to restore order in East Timor upon Indonesia's withdrawal from that territory. Australia has also been closely engaged in international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance through theSpecialized agencies, Funds and Programmes and Regional Commissions of the United Nations and major International Financial Institutions, in particular theWorld Bank, theInternational Monetary Fund, theAsian Development Bank and theAsian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Australia is a member of theG20, theOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and theAPEC forum. It is active in meetings of theCommonwealth Heads of Government, thePacific Islands Forum and other Pacific Islands regional organizations and theIndian Ocean Rim Association. It has been a leader in theCairns Group – countries pressing for agricultural trade reform in theUruguay Round of theGeneral Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) negotiations. Australia is also a member ofMIKTA, an informal and diverse middle power partnership between Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey and Australia, led by its foreign ministers, which seeks to promote an effective, rules-based global order.
Australia has devoted particular attention in the early 21st century to promoting regional architecture centred around the countries of theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to support dialogue on political, security and economic challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. Australia is an active participant in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the ASEAN sponsoredEast Asia Summit. Australia's place at the 2005 inaugural summit was only secured after it agreed toreverse its policy and accede to ASEAN'sTreaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. Australia had been reluctant to sign the treaty out of concerns regarding how it would affect Australia's obligation under other treaty arrangements includingANZUS.
| Instrument | Countries |
|---|---|
| ANZUS |  Australia • New Zealand (partially suspended) • United States |
| AUKUS | Australia • United Kingdom •United States |
| Five Power Defence Arrangements | Australia •New Zealand • Singapore • Malaysia •United Kingdom |
| Quadrilateral Security Dialogue | Australia • India • Japan •United States |
Comprehensive strategic partnerships are broad, high level relationships which have increasingly been formalized in the Asia-Pacific region under this description since the early 21st century. They are arrangements which, in general, convey a sense of mutual value, strategic alignment and positive intent to further strengthen ties.[37] They establish the framework for an intensified level of engagement across governments and indicate particularly close bilateral relations. Australia has a formal comprehensive strategic partnership with the following countries and multi-national organizations:
In 2014, the Australian Prime Minister and Chinese President agreed to describe the relationship as a "comprehensive strategic partnership", and this helped facilitate an extensive program of engagement. This partnership went into dormancy, particularly from 2020, but is being gradually revived with the improvement of relations since 2023.[48]
| Country | Signed | Treaty |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 1 September 1951 | ANZUS |
| United States | 1 September 1951 | ANZUS |
 Papua New Guinea | 6 October 2025 | Pukpuk Treaty |
Overall Australia's largest trading partners are the United States, South Korea, Japan, China, and the United Kingdom. Australia currently has bilateralFree Trade Agreements with New Zealand, the United States, Thailand and Singapore as of 2007 and the United Kingdom as of 2021. As well as this, Australia is in the process undertaking studies on Free Trade Agreements with ASEAN, China, Chile, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
To bolster its foreign policy, Australia maintains a very well-equipped military.According toSIPRI, Australia is the eight largest importer of major weapons in the world. The US supplied 80 per cent of Australia's imports and Spain 15 per cent.[49] All armed services have received new major arms in 2014–18, but mainly aircraft and ships. The F-35 combat aircraft and antisubmarine warfare aircraft from the USA made up 53 per cent of Australian arms imports in 2014–18, while ships from Spain accounted for 29 per cent.[50]
Australia is modernising its armed forces but also acquiring weapons that significantly increase its long-range capabilities. Among the weapons imported in 2010–14 were 5 tanker aircraft and the first of 2 amphibious assault ships from Spain, along with 2 large transport aircraft and 4 airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft from the USA. Australia also received 26 combat aircraft from the US, with 82 more on order (see box 3), as well as 8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft from the US and 3 Hobart destroyers from Spain.
In 2021, after Australia ended its 20-year military mission in Afghanistan, the defence officials held formal talks on strengthening military ties with theUnited Arab Emirates. However, the human rights groups said that it was "very concerning" to witness, as the Emirates was accused of carrying out "unlawful attacks" in war-torn nations likeLibya andYemen.[51]
In contrast to 2014–18, the period from 2019 to 2023 saw a 21 per cent decline in Australia's major arms imports.[52] However, in December 2021, Australia signed a defence procurement deal withSouth Korea worth $1billion AUD (US$720 million) for modernartillery, supply trucks and radars supplied by South Korean defense companyHanwha. The South Korean PresidentMoon Jae-in and Australian Prime MinisterScott Morrison met for the signing of the agreement and additionally announced they were formally upgrading the Australian-South Korean relationship to a "comprehensive strategic partnership".[53] Moreover, in 2023 Australia reached an agreement with the UK and the USA to import at least six nuclear-powered submarines.[54]
According to the Australianthink tankLowy Institute, Australia is the Pacific region's largest development partner, disbursing A$17 billion worth of international aid between 2008 and 2021, accounting for 40% of the region's overseas development finance (ODF). Australian international aid in the Pacific exceeded other regional partners including theAsian Development Bank,China,New Zealand andJapan. Between 2019 and 2021, Australian's overseas development finance in the Pacific rose from A$1.34 billion in 2019 to A$1.89 billion in 2021.[55]
In May 2024,RNZ reported that the Albanese Government had slightly increased Australia's foreign aid budget by four percent, bringing its total 2024–2025 aid o A$4.961 billion budget. In August 2023, the Government had released its new international development strategy, which promised new country, gender, disability and humanitarian aid strategies.[56]
As of 2011, Australia had established formal diplomatic relations with all members of the United Nations as well as theHoly See,Kosovo,Cook Islands and (in 2014)Niue. In many cases, diplomatic relations are maintained on a non-resident basis, with the Australian ambassador or high commissioner based in another country. Since 2012, diplomatic relations have been effectively suspended with theSyrian Arab Republic, with no diplomatic accreditation by either country maintained, but consular relations continue.[57] In the case of Afghanistan, following the Taliban takeover in 2021, diplomatic relations are in an ambiguous status with Australia "temporarily" closing its embassy inKabul and not recognizing the Islamic Emirate government but maintaining the credentials of the embassy of theIslamic Republic of Afghanistan in Canberra.[58] A number of Canadian missions provide consular assistance to Australians in countries in Africa where Australia does not maintain an office (and Australia reciprocates this arrangement for Canada in some other countries) through theCanada-Australia Consular Services Sharing Agreement.[59]
Due to theOne China Policy of the People's Republic of China, the Australian Office in Taiwan (formerly the Australian Commerce and Industry Office) unofficially represents Australia's interest inTaiwan, serving a function similar to other Australian Consulates.
List of countries which Australia maintains diplomatic relations with:
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Country | Date |
| 1 | United Kingdom | 22 January 1910[60] |
| 2 |  Canada | 2 November 1939[61] |
| 3 | United States | 8 January 1940[62] |
| 4 | Japan | 17 August 1940[63] |
| 5 |  Netherlands | 1 February 1942[64] |
| 6 |  Russia | 10 October 1942[65] |
| 7 | New Zealand | 27 February 1943[66] |
| 8 | India | 1 November 1943[64] |
| 9 |  France | 4 November 1944[67] |
| 10 |  Brazil | 7 June 1945[68] |
| 11 |  Chile | 27 December 1945[69] |
| 12 |  Philippines | 4 July 1946[70] |
| 13 |  South Africa | August 1946[71] |
| 14 |  Ireland | 15 October 1946[72] |
| 15 |  Denmark | 18 March 1947[73] |
| 16 |  Sri Lanka | 29 April 1947[74] |
| 17 |  Norway | 23 June 1947[75] |
| 18 |  Pakistan | 15 August 1947[76] |
| 19 |  Sweden | 24 September 1947[73] |
| 20 |  Belgium | 30 January 1948[77] |
| 21 |  Uruguay | 15 December 1948[78] |
| 22 |  Israel | 29 January 1949[79] |
| 23 |  Finland | 31 May 1949[80] |
| 24 |  Italy | 24 November 1949[81] |
| 25 |  Indonesia | 27 December 1949[82] |
| 26 |  Egypt | 23 July 1950[83] |
| 27 |  Cambodia | 15 January 1952[84] |
| 28 |  Laos | 16 January 1952[85] |
| 29 |  Germany | 28 January 1952[86] |
| 30 |  Austria | 3 December 1952[87] |
| 31 |  Thailand | 19 December 1952[88] |
| 32 |  Greece | 30 March 1953[89] |
| 33 |  Myanmar | 1 August 1953[90] |
| 34 | Malaysia | 31 August 1957[91] |
| 35 |  Ghana | 21 February 1958[92] |
| 36 |  Argentina | 10 December 1959[93] |
| 37 |  Nepal | 15 February 1960[94] |
| 38 |  Portugal | 4 August 1960[95] |
| 39 |  Nigeria | 1 October 1960[96][97] |
| 40 |  Switzerland | 3 June 1961[98] |
| 41 |  South Korea | 30 October 1961[99] |
| 42 |  Tanzania | 12 May 1962[100] |
| 43 |  Peru | 1 March 1963[101] |
| 44 |  Malta | 21 September 1964[102] |
| 45 | Singapore | 18 August 1965[103] |
| 46 |  Kenya | 23 August 1965[104] |
| 47 |  Uganda | 23 August 1965[104] |
| 48 |  Ethiopia | 13 December 1965[105] |
| 49 |  Mexico | 14 March 1966[106] |
| 50 |  Serbia | 25 April 1966[107] |
| 51 |  Lebanon | 5 February 1967[108] |
| 52 |  Turkey | 28 February 1967[109] |
| 53 |  Spain | 26 October 1967[110] |
| 54 |  Romania | 18 March 1968[111] |
| 55 |  Iran | 21 September 1968[112] |
| 56 |  Afghanistan | 30 March 1969[113] |
| 57 |  Luxembourg | 18 September 1970[114] |
| 58 |  Mauritius | 25 September 1970[115] |
| 59 |  Fiji | 10 October 1970[116] |
| 60 |  Tonga | 3 December 1970[117] |
| 61 |  Samoa | 31 March 1971[118] |
| 62 |  Bangladesh | 31 January 1972[119] |
| 63 |  Poland | 20 February 1972[120] |
| 64 |  Bulgaria | 5 April 1972[121] |
| 65 |  Hungary | 6 April 1972[122] |
| 66 |  Bahrain | 24 April 1972[123] |
| 67 |  Zambia | 18 May 1972[124] |
| 68 |  Czech Republic | 18 June 1972[125] |
| 69 |  Mongolia | 15 September 1972[126] |
| 70 |  Nauru | 21 November 1972[127] |
| 71 |  China | 21 December 1972[128] |
| 72 |  Vietnam | 26 February 1973[129] |
| — |  Holy See | 24 March 1973[130] |
| 73 |  Venezuela | 31 March 1973[131] |
| 74 |  Botswana | 9 July 1973[132] |
| 75 |  Eswatini | 9 July 1973[133] |
| 76 |  Lesotho | 9 July 1973[133] |
| 77 |  Iraq | 2 December 1973[134] |
| 78 |  Oman | 18 December 1973[135] |
| 79 |  Bahamas | 7 January 1974[136] |
| 80 |  Barbados | 7 January 1974[137] |
| 81 |  Guatemala | 7 January 1974[138] |
| 82 |  Guyana | 7 January 1974[139] |
| 83 |  Jamaica | 7 January 1974[140][139] |
| 84 |  Trinidad and Tobago | 7 January 1974[141] |
| 85 |  Saudi Arabia | 15 January 1974[142] |
| 86 |  Maldives | 25 January 1974[143] |
| 87 |  Sudan | 8 February 1974[144] |
| 88 |  Senegal | 10 February 1974[145] |
| 89 |  Panama | 20 February 1974[146] |
| 90 |  Cyprus | 29 April 1974[147] |
| 91 |  Kuwait | 1 July 1974[148] |
| 92 |  Algeria | 8 July 1974[149] |
| 93 |  Madagascar | 22 August 1974[150] |
| 94 |  Ivory Coast | 17 September 1974[151] |
| 95 |  Costa Rica | 9 October 1974[152] |
| 96 |  Paraguay | 2 December 1974[153] |
| 97 |  North Korea | 31 December 1974[154] |
| 98 |  Colombia | 9 January 1975[155] |
| 99 |  Ecuador | 3 February 1975[156] |
| 100 |  United Arab Emirates | 10 March 1975[157] |
| 101 |  Bolivia | 10 April 1975[158] |
| 102 |  Jordan | 29 April 1975[159] |
| 103 |  Syria | 12 May 1975[159] |
| 104 | Papua New Guinea | 16 September 1975[160] |
| 105 |  Seychelles | 29 June 1976[161] |
| 106 |  Morocco | 13 July 1976[162] |
| 107 |  Tunisia | 17 February 1977[163] |
| 108 |  Tuvalu | 30 November 1977[164] |
| 109 |  Libya | 4 January 1978[165] |
| 110 |  Solomon Islands | 7 July 1978[166] |
| 111 |  Kiribati | 12 July 1979[167] |
| 112 |  Grenada | 18 December 1979[168] |
| 113 |  Zimbabwe | 18 April 1980[169] |
| 114 |  Qatar | 1 May 1980[165] |
| 115 |  Vanuatu | 30 July 1980[170] |
| 116 |  Yemen | 20 December 1980[165] |
| 117 |  Gambia | 10 July 1981[145] |
| 118 |  Sierra Leone | 10 July 1981[145] |
| 119 |  Antigua and Barbuda | 17 January 1982[171] |
| 120 |  Belize | 17 January 1982[172] |
| 121 |  Dominica | 17 January 1982[145] |
| 122 |  Saint Lucia | 17 January 1982[145] |
| 123 |  Mozambique | 1 April 1982[145] |
| 124 |  Malawi | 1 July 1983[173] |
| 125 |  Comoros | 27 July 1983[174] |
| 126 |  Gabon | 19 September 1983[145] |
| 127 |  El Salvador | 4 December 1983[175] |
| 128 |  Honduras | 4 December 1983[175] |
| 129 |  Nicaragua | 4 December 1983[175] |
| 130 |  Brunei | 1 January 1984[176] |
| 131 |  Iceland | 12 February 1984[177] |
| 132 |  Mali | 15 March 1984[178] |
| 133 |  Albania | 16 September 1984[179] |
| 134 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 31 January 1986[180] |
| 135 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis | 9 February 1986[145] |
| 136 |  Marshall Islands | 8 July 1987[181] |
| 137 |  Angola | 30 March 1988[182] |
| 138 |  Federated States of Micronesia | 6 July 1988[183] |
| 139 |  Cuba | 31 January 1989[184] |
| 140 |  Latvia | 27 August 1991[185] |
| 141 |  Lithuania | 6 November 1991[186] |
| 142 |  Estonia | 21 November 1991[187] |
| 143 |  Kyrgyzstan | 26 December 1991[188] |
| 144 |  Tajikistan | 26 December 1991[189] |
| 145 |  Uzbekistan | 26 December 1991[190] |
| 146 |  Belarus | 9 January 1992[191] |
| 147 |  Ukraine | 10 January 1992[192] |
| 148 |  Armenia | 15 January 1992[193] |
| 149 |  Slovenia | 5 February 1992[194] |
| 150 |  Croatia | 13 February 1992[195] |
| 151 |  Moldova | 1 April 1992[196] |
| 152 |  Turkmenistan | 14 May 1992[197] |
| 153 |  Azerbaijan | 19 June 1992[198] |
| 154 |  Kazakhstan | 22 June 1992[199] |
| 155 |  Georgia | 16 July 1992[200] |
| 156 |  Slovakia | 1 January 1993[201] |
| 157 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 7 January 1993[202] |
| 158 |  Eritrea | 24 November 1993[203] |
| 159 |  Namibia | 8 June 1994[204] |
| 160 |  Palau | 1 October 1994[205] |
| — |  Cook Islands | 1994[206] |
| 161 |  Andorra | 2 March 1995[207] |
| 162 |  San Marino | 13 September 1995[208] |
| 163 |  North Macedonia | 20 October 1995[209] |
| 164 |  Suriname | 19 January 1996[210] |
| 165 |  Liechtenstein | 14 March 1997[211] |
| 166 |  Dominican Republic | 22 April 1997[212] |
| 167 |  Haiti | 28 November 2000[145] |
| 168 |  Mauritania | 13 December 2001[213] |
| 169 |  Cameroon | 2 March 2002[214] |
| 170 |  Timor-Leste | 20 May 2002[215] |
| 171 |  Bhutan | 14 September 2002[210] |
| 172 |  Guinea | 17 June 2004[216] |
| 173 |  Benin | 28 April 2005[216] |
| 174 |  Chad | 19 December 2005[171] |
| 175 |  Montenegro | 1 September 2006[217] |
| 176 |  Monaco | 3 May 2007[218] |
| 177 |  Rwanda | 9 May 2007[219] |
| 178 |  Burundi | 23 August 2007[171] |
| — |  Kosovo | 21 May 2008[220] |
| 179 |  Liberia | 26 September 2008[210] |
| 180 |  Burkina Faso | 13 November 2008[210] |
| 181 |  Djibouti | 23 April 2009[219] |
| 182 |  Republic of the Congo | 7 May 2009[210] |
| 183 |  Niger | 7 May 2009[210] |
| 184 |  São Tomé and Príncipe | 8 July 2009[210] |
| 185 |  Togo | 22 July 2009[210] |
| 186 |  Equatorial Guinea | 23 July 2009[210] |
| 187 |  Cape Verde | 22 September 2009[221] |
| 188 |  Central African Republic | 18 January 2010[210] |
| 189 |  Somalia | 20 April 2010[222] |
| 190 |  Democratic Republic of the Congo | 18 January 2011[145] |
| 191 |  Guinea-Bissau | 14 March 2011[171] |
| 192 |  South Sudan | 24 September 2011[223] |
| — |  Niue | 27 February 2014[224] |
| Country | Formal relations began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 8 July 1974[149] |
|
| Angola | 30 May 1988[226] |
|
| Benin | 11 September 2010[229] | |
| Botswana | 9 July 1973[230] |
|
| Burkina Faso | 13 November 2008[233] |
|
| Burundi | ||
| Cape Verde | 22 September 2009[237] |
|
| Cameroon | 2 March 2002[238] |
|
| Central African Republic | 18 January 2010[240] |
|
| Chad | 2007 |
|
| Comoros | 27 July 1983[241] |
|
| Congo | 7 May 2009[243] |
|
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 2011 |
|
| Djibouti |
| |
| Egypt | 8 April 1950, severed diplomatic relations from 6 November 1956 to 19 October 1959 | SeeAustralia–Egypt relations
|
| Equatorial Guinea | 23 July 2009[251] |
|
| Eritrea | 24 November 1993 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 November 1993 when first Eritrea's Ambassador to Australia Mr. Fessehaie Abraham presented his credentials[203]
|
| Eswatini | 9 July 1973[230] |
|
| Ethiopia | 13 December 1965[254] |
|
| Gabon | 20 October 1984 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 October 1984 when Mr. A. R.Taylor, presented his letter of credence as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to Gabon.[261]
|
| Gambia | 15 February 1982[265] |
|
| Ghana | 6 December 1957 |
|
| Guinea |
| |
| Guinea-Bissau |
| |
| Ivory Coast | 17 September 1974[271] |
|
| Kenya | 23 August 1965 | SeeAustralia–Kenya relations
|
| Lesotho | 9 July 1973[230] |
|
| Liberia | 26 September 2008[280][281] |
|
| Libya | 2 January 1978, broke off 19 May 1987, Restored in June 2002 | SeeAustralia–Libya relations
|
| Madagascar | 22 August 1974[294] |
|
| Malawi | 1 July 1983 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 July 1983 when Mr. I. L. James, the first High Commissioner of Australia to Malawi presented his letters of credentials.[173]
|
| Mali | 15 March 1984 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 March 1984 when first non-resident Ambassador of Mali to Australia Mr. Boubacar Toure presented his credentials[178] |
| Mauritania | 13 December 2001 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 December 2001.[213]
|
| Mauritius | 25 September 1970[115] |
|
| Morocco | 13 July 1976[162] | SeeAustralia–Morocco relations
|
| Mozambique | 1 April 1982[303][304] |
|
| Namibia | 1990 |
|
| Niger | 7 May 2009[308] |
|
| Nigeria | 1 October 1960 |
|
| Rwanda | 2007 |
|
| São Tomé and Príncipe | 8 July 2009[319] |
|
| Senegal | 26 September 1974[271] | SeeAustralia–Senegal relations
|
| Seychelles | 29 June 1976 |
|
| Sierra Leone | 9 October 1981[328] |
|
| Somalia | 16 February 1982 |
|
| South Africa | 8 May 1946 | SeeAustralia–South Africa relations
|
| South Sudan | 24 September 2011 | .jpg)
|
| Sudan | 8 February 1974[343] |
|
| Tanzania | 11 May 1962 |
|
| Togo | 22 July 2009[351] |
|
| Tunisia | 17 February 1977[163] |
|
| Uganda | 23 August 1965[274] |
|
| Zambia | 1972 |
|
| Zimbabwe | 18 April 1980 | SeeAustralia–Zimbabwe relations
|
| Country | Formal relations began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda |
| |
| Argentina | 10 December 1959 | SeeArgentina–Australia relations
|
| Bahamas | 7 January 1974 |
|
| Barbados | 7 January 1974 | SeeAustralia–Barbados relations
|
| Belize | 17 January 1982 |
|
| Bolivia | 10 April 1975[369] |
|
| Brazil | 7 June 1945 | SeeAustralia–Brazil relations
|
| Canada | 12 September 1939 | SeeAustralia–Canada relations
|
| Chile | 27 December 1945 | SeeAustralia–Chile relations
|
| Colombia | 9 September 1975 | SeeAustralia–Colombia relations
|
| Costa Rica | 15 October 1974 |
|
| Cuba | 31 January 1989 |
|
| Dominica |
| |
| Dominican Republic | 22 April 1997 |
|
| Ecuador |
| |
| El Salvador | 5 December 1983 | SeeAustralia–El Salvador relations
|
| Grenada |
| |
| Guatemala | 7 January 1974 |
|
| Guyana | 7 January 1974 |
|
| Haiti | 2000 |
|
| Honduras | 10 July 1984 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 July 1984 when Mr. Cavan Hogue, Australian Ambassador presented his credentials to President of Honduras Roberto Suazo Cordova.[397]
|
| Jamaica | 7 January 1974 |
|
| Mexico | 14 March 1966[401] | SeeAustralia–Mexico relations
|
| Nicaragua | 1987 |
|
| Panama | 1974 |
|
| Paraguay | 30 November 1974 | SeeAustralia–Paraguay relations
|
| Peru | 1 March 1963 | Main article:Australia–Peru relations
|
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | 6 February 1986 |
|
| Saint Lucia | 1982[412] |
|
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 31 January 1986 |
|
| Suriname | 3 February 1994[415] |
|
| Trinidad and Tobago | 7 January 1974[365] |
|
| United States | 8 January 1940 |  SeeAustralia–United States relations While Australia has emphasised its relationship with the United States since 1942, as Britain's influence in Asia declined. At the governmental level, United-States-Australia relations are formalized by theANZUS treaty and theAustralia-United States Free Trade Agreement.
|
| Uruguay | 1948 | SeeAustralia–Uruguay relations
|
| Venezuela | 31 May 1973[420] |
|
| Country | Formal relations began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
 Afghanistan | 30 March 1969[426] | 
|
| Armenia | 15 January 1992 | SeeArmenia–Australia relations
|
| Azerbaijan | 19 June 1992 | SeeAustralia–Azerbaijan relations
|
| Bahrain | 13 April 1987 |
|
| Bangladesh | 31 January 1972 | SeeAustralia–Bangladesh relations
|
| Bhutan | 14 September 2002[450] |
|
| Brunei | 1 January 1984 | SeeAustralia–Brunei relations
|
| Cambodia | 15 January 1952 | SeeAustralia–Cambodia relations
|
| China | 21 December 1972 | SeeAustralia–China relations
|
| Georgia | 16 July 1992 |
|
| India | 1941 | SeeAustralia–India relations[478]
|
| Indonesia | 17 March 1950 | SeeAustralia–Indonesia relations
|
| Iran | 21 September 1968 | SeeAustralia–Iran relations
|
| Iraq | 2 December 1973 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 December 1973[134]
|
| Israel | 11 May 1949 | SeeAustralia–Israel relations
|
| Japan | 14 September 1940 (broken from 8 December 1941 to 28 April 1952) | SeeAustralia–Japan relations Australia-Japan relations are generally warm, substantial and driven by mutual interests, and have expanded beyond strong economic and commercial links to other spheres, including culture, tourism, defence and scientific co-operation. |
| Jordan | 28 April 1975 |
|
| Kazakhstan | 22 June 1992 |
|
| Kuwait | 1 July 1974[148] |
|
| Kyrgyzstan |
| |
| Laos | 15 January 1952 |
|
| Lebanon | 20 February 1967 |
|
| Malaysia | 31 August 1957 | SeeAustralia–Malaysia relations
|
| Maldives | 25 January 1974 |
|
| Mongolia | 15 September 1972[530] | SeeAustralia–Mongolia relations
|
| Myanmar | 1 August 1953 |
|
| Nepal | 15 February 1960 |
|
| North Korea | 31 December 1974, broken 30 October 1975, Restored 8 May 2000 | SeeAustralia–North Korea relations
|
| Oman | 1981 |
|
| Pakistan | 8 March 1948 | SeeAustralia–Pakistan relations
|
 Palestine | No diplomatic relations |
|
| Philippines | 17 March 1950 | SeeAustralia–Philippines relations
|
| Qatar | 1 May 1980 |
|
| Saudi Arabia | 15 January 1974 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 January 1974[142] SeeAustralia–Saudi Arabia relations
|
| Singapore | 18 August 1965 | SeeAustralia–Singapore relations
|
| South Korea | 30 October 1961 | SeeAustralia–South Korea relations The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and the Commonwealth of Australia began on 30 October 1961.[99]
|
| Sri Lanka | 4 February 1948 |
|
| Syria | 1975 | SeeAustralia–Syria relations
|
 Taiwan | 16 September 1941 – 22 December 1972 | SeeAustralia–Taiwan relations
|
| Tajikistan |
| |
| Thailand | 19 December 1952 | SeeAustralia–Thailand relations
|
| Timor-Leste | 20 May 2002 | SeeAustralia–East Timor relations
|
| Turkey | 28 February 1967 | SeeAustralia–Turkey relations
|
| Turkmenistan | 14 May 1992 |
|
| United Arab Emirates | 16 March 1975 | SeeAustralia–United Arab Emirates relations
|
| Uzbekistan | 26 December 1991 |
|
| Vietnam | 26 February 1973 (with Republic of Vietnam from 15 January 1952 to 5 May 1975) | SeeAustralia–Vietnam relations
|
| Yemen | 20 December 1980 with Yemen Arab Republic (June 1984-22 May 1990 with People's Democratic Republic of Yemen) |
|
| Country | Formal relations began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Albania | 15 September 1984 |
|
| Andorra | 2 March 1995 | |
| Austria | 1952 |
|
| Belarus | 9 January 1992[613] |
|
| Belgium | 1947 | SeeAustralia–Belgium relations
|
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 7 January 1993 |
|
| Bulgaria | 5 April 1972 | |
| Croatia | 13 February 1992 | SeeAustralia–Croatia relations Australia gave recognition of Croatia in January 1992
|
| Cyprus | 19 April 1973[622] |
|
| Czech Republic | 18 June 1972/1 January 1993 |
|
| Denmark | 1947 | SeeAustralia–Denmark relations
|
| Estonia | 21 November 1991 | SeeAustralia–Estonia relations
|
| Finland | 31 May 1949 | SeeAustralia–Finland relations
|
| France | 1944 | SeeAustralia–France relations France and Australia have a close relationship founded on historical contacts, shared values of democracy and human rights, substantial commercial links, and a keen interest in each other's culture. |
| Germany | 28 January 1952 with FRG[643] (22 December 1972 – 3 October 1990 with GDR) | SeeAustralia–Germany relations |
| Greece | 30 March 1953 | SeeAustralia–Greece relations
|
| Holy See | 24 March 1973[655] |
|
| Hungary | 6 April 1972 |
|
| Iceland | 17 April 1984 |
|
| Ireland | 1 July 1946 | SeeAustralia–Ireland relations
|
| Italy | 1948 | SeeAustralia–Italy relations
|
| Kosovo | 21 May 2008[667] | SeeAustralia–Kosovo relations |
| Latvia | 27 August 1991 | SeeAustralia–Latvia relations
|
| Liechtenstein | 1999 |
|
| Lithuania | 6 November 1991 | SeeAustralia–Lithuania relations
|
| Luxembourg | 18 September 1970[679] | SeeAustralia–Luxembourg relations
|
| Malta | 21 September 1964 |
|
| Moldova | 1 April 1992 |
|
| Monaco | 3 May 2007 |
|
| Montenegro | 1 September 2006 | See Australia–Montenegro relations
|
| Netherlands | 18 March 1942 | SeeAustralia–Netherlands relations
|
| North Macedonia | 20 October 1995 | SeeAustralia–North Macedonia relations |
| Norway | 23 June 1947 | SeeAustralia–Norway relations
|
| Poland | 20 February 1972[689] | SeeAustralia–Poland relations
|
| Portugal | 15 August 1960 |
|
| Romania | 18 March 1968 | SeeAustralia–Romania relations
|
| Russia | 10 October 1942,(broken from 23 April 1954 to 16 March 1959) | SeeAustralia–Russia relations
|
| San Marino | 13 September 1995[208] |
|
| Serbia | 26 April 1966 | SeeAustralia–Serbia relations
|
| Slovakia | 1 January 1993 |
|
| Slovenia | 5 February 1992 |
|
| Spain | 26 October 1967 | SeeAustralia–Spain relations
|
| Sweden | 26 September 1947[708] | SeeAustralia–Sweden relations
|
| Switzerland | 2 June 1961 | SeeAustralia–Switzerland relations
|
| Ukraine | 10 January 1992[711] | SeeAustralia–Ukraine relations_cropped.jpg)
|
| United Kingdom | SeeAustralia–United Kingdom relations
|
Australia is a member of thePacific Islands Forum and other regional organisations. As part of its Pacific Step-Up initiative announced in 2016[719] Australia has uniquely established resident High Commissions and embassies in all independent and self governing members of the Pacific Islands Forum as well as consulates-general in New Caledonia and French Polynesia. Australia provides aid to many of its developing Pacific Islands neighbours, and to Papua New Guinea. For decades, it has been the largest donor of aid to the Oceania region.[720] China and New Zealand, the next biggest donors, donated only one sixth of Australia's aid during the 2010s.[721]
Since the end of the Cold War, the understanding from the United States has been that Australia and New Zealand would assume responsibility for the security of much of the Oceania region, whom they already share pre-existing cultural and economic ties to.[722]
Australia's approach to the Pacific has included frequent references to what it has perceived as an "Arc of Instability" among its island neighbours. In August 2006 Australian Defence MinisterBrendan Nelson stated to the Australian Parliament:
We cannot afford to have failing states in our region. The so-called 'arc of instability', which basically goes from East Timor through to the south-west Pacific states, means that not only does Australia have a responsibility in preventing and indeed assisting with humanitarian and disaster relief, but also that we cannot allow any of these countries to become havens for transnational crime, nor indeed havens for terrorism.[723]
As from early 2008, the Australian government led byKevin Rudd began what it called a "new approach" to relations between Australia and the Pacific, appointing a Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Duncan Kerr. In February, Kerr and fellow Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Bob McMullan visited Samoa, Tonga and Kiribati in February, and stated:
Broadly, the approach is one of much more partnership and engagement on the basis of mutual respect. We're not going to be lecturing or hectoring, we're going to try and work together with them and I think we set a pretty good standard with the way we started. The relationships we've established with ministers and leaders in those countries [Kiribati, Tonga and Samoa] is very positive.[724]
Richard Marles, the deputy leader of the Australian Labor Party, has strongly advocated for Australia to prioritize its role in the Pacific. In 2021, he wrote a book titledTides that bind: Australia in the Pacific, and claimed in an interview that, "By any measure, we are huge part of the Pacific. We're the largest donor into the Pacific, we've got the biggest diplomatic footprint in the Pacific, we've got the most development resources in the Pacific of any country. For most of the Pacific, we're the most important bilateral relationship they have, more important than the United States, more important than China."[725]
| Country | Formal relations began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cook Islands | 1994 | SeeAustralia–Cook Islands relations
|
| Fiji | 10 October 1970[729] | SeeAustralia–Fiji relations
|
| Kiribati | 12 July 1979 |
|
| Marshall Islands | 8 July 1987 | SeeAustralia–Marshall Islands relations
|
| Micronesia | 6 July 1987 | SeeAustralia–Federated States of Micronesia relations
|
| Nauru | 21 November 1972 | SeeAustralia–Nauru relations
|
| New Zealand | 14 December 1943 | SeeAustralia–New Zealand relations
|
| Niue | 27 February 2013 |
|
| Palau | 1 October 1994 | SeeAustralia–Palau relations
|
| Papua New Guinea | 16 September 1975 | SeeAustralia–Papua New Guinea relations.jpg)
|
| Samoa | 13 November 1971 |
|
| Solomon Islands | 7 July 1978 | SeeAustralia–Solomon Islands relations_(32015117488).jpg)
|
| Tonga | 29 November 1970 | SeeAustralia–Tonga relations
|
| Tuvalu | 1 October 1978 | SeeAustralia–Tuvalu relations
|
| Vanuatu | 30 July 1980 |
|
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromThe World Factbook (2025 ed.).CIA. (Archived 2000 edition.){{cite book}}:|journal= ignored (help)Establishment of Diplomatic Relations 30, October 1961
{{cite book}}:|newspaper= ignored (help)... 7 January 1974 The Minister for Foreign Affairs , Senator Don Willesee , announced today the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Bahamas , Barbados , Guyana , Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago .
A statement issued yesterday said the High Commission was opened in line with the Zimbabwe Governments agreement to establish diplomatic relations with Australia. It began operating on Indepenpence Day.
{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)The Government has raised the Australian Legation in Vietnam to the status of an Embassy and has appointed Mr. W. D. Forsyth as Australia's first Ambassador in Saigon.
{{cite web}}:|author= has generic name (help)The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs [found] "While Australia and New Zealand are of course two sovereign nations, it seems to the committee that the strong ties between the two countries – the economic, cultural, migration, defence, governmental and people-to-people linkages – suggest that an even closer relationship, including the possibility of union, is both desirable and realistic,"
| Africa |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Americas | ||
| Asia | ||
| Europe | ||
| Oceania | ||
| Former | ||
| Multilateral relations | ||
| Related | ||