Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Good morning and thanks very much for being here. It's just really wonderful to welcome Minister Wadephul to Australia. Johann and I had an excellent meeting last night where he informed me he had seen kangaroos, so he was pleased. But more importantly, we affirmed the strength of our relationship and we committed to working even more closely together. You've heard me talk for some time about middle power diplomacy - amplified middle power diplomacy - and how important it is for middle powers to work together and that is what we're doing. We've agreed to lift our Enhanced Strategic Partnership to a new level. We want deeper, more high-level, more frequent exchanges, and we want to work particularly together on the Indo-Pacific.
We are working together, particularly in Southeast Asia and Pacific countries, on our renewable energy plans. We will coordinate better and deliver more outcomes. We will ramp up our collaboration on environmental protection and climate action. I spoke to Johann about COP31 and the Pacific pre-COP and expressed to him both my thanks for Germany's continued contribution to climate finance, including to the Pacific Resilience Facility, and our hope that we can see continued support for the Pacific. On economic security, we spoke about the way in which like-minded countries have to work together to assure our supply chains, recognising that security of supply is a national security issue and we have agreed to deepen that cooperation, particularly on critical minerals.
On the European Free Trade Agreement, we welcome Germany's strong support for an EU-Australia FTA, and we hope we can make progress in the near future on that. We will work together on cyber, critical technologies and also on the countering of mis and disinformation. We've also spoken about Ukraine. And I reiterated to Minister Wadephul that Australia remains steadfast in our support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's illegal and immoral invasion. We spoke about working together multilaterally in the reform of the UN but also what we must do - as two countries who believe in open trade - to continue to buttress and assure trade which we believe underpins peace and prosperity. As middle powers, we want to contribute to a world where no country dominates and no country is dominated. Middle powers are active, middle powers are ambitious. Minister Wadephul and Germany, I look forward to working with them more closely in the future. Johann.
Johann Wadephul, Germany's Foreign Minister: Thank you. G'day Penny. Good morning, everybody. I was really thrilled to meet the kangaroos again this morning. But especially I would like to thank you personally, Penny, for the warm welcome here in Canberra. It was important to me to come to Australia early in my tenure as German Foreign Minister. And I'm more than happy that we have the opportunity to even meet twice during my trip to Australia. Thanks again for the wonderful welcome last night, which myself and the whole delegation truly appreciated as a sign of close friendship.
Australia and Germany are oceans apart but in every other regard we are very closely connected. We work for shared values such as freedom, democracy and a robust international order which is based on rules. For many decades, we have been connected by close friendship. Next year we will already look back to 75 years of diplomatic relations. During this time, we have come closer together. In 2021, we enhanced our relations to become an Enhanced Strategic Partnership. At the moment we are seeing global shifts. The international order as we know it is under immense pressure. I very much appreciate in times like these to have such a close friend like Australia here in the Pacific area. A friend who stands up for international cooperation that is based on rules that apply to everyone. A friend who knows how close security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and in Europe are intertwined. A friend who therefore has been standing by the side of Ukraine with us since the beginning of the Russian war on Ukraine. Australia has imposed comprehensive sanctions and since the beginning of the war, Australia has contributed nearly 1 billion euros in support for Ukraine. This includes supplies of tanks and contributions to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund as well as a contribution to the so-called Pearl Initiative where Australia, alongside New Zealand, is one of the first non-NATO states to contribute. I'm very grateful for this, dear Penny, and for the support of Australia for Ukraine in their fight against Russia.
Germany also wants to be more involved on the other side of the world because the Indo-Pacific is one of the regions where it will be decided what kind of 21st century we will live in. And for this reason, we get together at regular intervals, and we also take part in exercises by the Air Force, such as the Exercise Pitch Black. And that is why we discussed on a trust basis our work in the field of security and defence, which we want to continue to expand. We very much appreciate how closely Australia is cooperating with us as one of the most important non-NATO partners. We have a very clear view of the security policy challenges that you are confronted with here in Australia. Because what happens here in the Indo Pacific, for example, in the Strait of Taiwan or in the South China Sea, that has consequences that go far beyond the region and that impact Europe and the world. At the same time, the Indo Pacific is a growth engine for the world. Two thirds of global growth is generated here and in many places that are visited on this trip, but also last year, you can feel this dynamic also here in Australia. Your country is also an important partner for us when it comes to diversifying our supply chains. Many important raw materials, such as lithium, are extracted here and we have great interest in expanding our cooperation in raw materials, particularly when it comes to strategically important minerals. And that is why since 2024, there has been a strategic raw material partnership between Australia and the EU. Particularly in the field of economic security, we want to strengthen our cooperation further.
Industry Minister Tim Ayres and Trade Minister Don Farrell also agreed that our two economies have great potential for more in-depth cooperation, particularly when it comes to making our supply chains more robust and diverse. Germany is one of the most important importers, Australia is one of the most important producers. So, we have to go forward together. And in this interest, it would be great to conclude a modern free trade agreement between the EU and Australia quickly. If you ask me, it should be done as soon as possible, if possible within the year. Because this agreement could make our economic relations even stronger. I also advocated for that. The fact that talks are ongoing, even though they're not easy, is a step in the right direction. But in the end, we can all have to gain something from that. The fact that we had the opportunity to discuss many topics in depth and in detail yesterday and today shows our mutual desire to fulfil our Enhanced Strategic Partnership and to take it forward. I'm very grateful for this and I hope dear Penny Wong to see you soon in Germany.
Foreign Minister Wong: I'd love to reciprocate. That would be great to do that. Okay, we have a few questions. I think we'll go. Australia, Germany. Australia, Germany.
Journalist: Minister Wadephul, as you're no doubt aware, we have the Israeli President Isaac Herzog visiting Australia in days ahead. Four-day visit. My question is to both of you. What perspective do you bring to the International Court of Justice findings on genocide? And specifically to Penny Wong, what is your response to this extraordinary call from the former Human Rights Commissioner Chris Sidoti for Isaac Herzog to be arrested here in Australia?
Foreign Minister Wong: Look, as I've said already, I think on more than one occasion, President Herzog is being invited to Australia to honour the victims of Bondi and to be with and provide support to Australia's Jewish community. The Australian Jewish community - in the wake of the worst on-soil terrorist attack, an antisemitic attack, that we have seen - invited the President and the formal invitation was extended by the Governor-General at the request of the Prime Minister. So, we have invited him, and it is important, I think, for all to remember the reasons why the Government has listened to the request of the Jewish community on this.
Foreign Minister Wadephul: Yes, Germany has historical reasons for having a particular responsibility for the existence and security of the State of Israel. We, as the federal government, feel a lasting commitment for this, but apart from that, it is clear that we criticise individual decisions by any Israeli government. This, however, must never lead to our questioning of our special relationship with Israel, and it must not lead to us giving cause for antisemitism anywhere in the world. There's a large and consistent responsibility for Germany that we feel beholden to, and, of course, we also feel beholden to international law, including all decisions taken by international courts of law, which we accept. We accept the division of powers, and we always feel bound to this kind of jurisdiction, and we also call it out in the world.
Journalist: [Inaudible]. President von der Leyen of the Commission will come to Australia soon. Will there be a free trade agreement until then, and can you say something about raw material deals? And also, Maja T. has been sentenced to eight years of imprisonment in Hungary. Will you make sure that she is transferred to Germany?
Minister Wong, Australia had a lot of ups and downs within its relations with China. Is there any main lesson you could share with us? And could Germany and Europe play a stabilising role?
Foreign Minister Wadephul: Just regarding the sentence by the Hungarian court, I cannot say any more about this. It's a sentence that is not taken by a court within an EU state. I have already heard that recourse will be taken. Our consulate is looking after this case, and we have asked for extradition to Germany. That is a known fact, and that continues to be true.
The central issue of the talks here is a closer and important cooperation in the field of critical raw materials such as rare earths, and that is a question of economic security. It contributes to securing our prosperity and maintaining our security in Europe and also in the region here. And I think that this is an existential question for the future. We must diversify our supply chains, and we must cooperate as closely as possible. We have to create new mechanisms for international cooperation, and we have to do so flexibly. These mechanisms have to be reliable for all parties involved and, of course, that will require certain financial investment because sourcing these raw materials is related to significant cost. But we know that German industry, in particular, relies on these raw materials, and so I believe that this is a large field for particularly close cooperation between Australia and Germany.
In this context - and I've said it already, I can only say it again - the Federal Government is always constructive and positive when it comes to negotiations of free trade agreements. These negotiations now have to be had. Particularly in the agricultural sector, they are challenging, which is not surprising. And if you see what kind of difficulties we had when ratifying the Mercosur Agreement, where the agricultural sector of some countries responded very critically, we have to bear this in mind in all future negotiations when talking about free trade agreements with Australia, for example. But we are committed to free trade. We believe that trade barriers must be dismantled, and we also believe that the European Union and Australia would benefit from such an agreement. And that is why our approach is worthwhile. It is important to have another go, and I think we'll be successful.
Foreign Minister Wong: So, first on the free trade agreement, I just want to make this point: we still believe in the post-war principle that economic engagement and trade between nations not only benefits prosperity but brings with it a dividend in terms of peace and stability. That is still Australia's position, and I've been clear about that, as has the Prime Minister and the Trade Minister. So that is the mindset with which we come to the discussion.
I would say there's an additional benefit with the EU FTA, which is in a time where we do see - it's not just challenges but a great deal of change, disruption in the world - it is even more important for the stability of those trading arrangements between like-minded countries to be strengthened. So we are strong supporters of it, and we hope that we can see the conclusion of an EU-Australia FTA in the near future.
On China, China is a very important trading partner for us. It's a very important power in the region. And I've spoken a lot about stabilising our relationship with China, and the Government has worked hard to do that. And stabilising has never meant pretending we don't have differences of views. What it means is navigating differences, which arise from our different national interests, wisely and appropriately. And it also means looking to where we can work together. We describe it as: cooperate where we can, disagree where we must and engage in the national interest. And that is how we have approached it. I wouldn't propose ever to give Germany advice about how to behave diplomatically; I'm sure that Johann and others will be quite capable of managing that relationship without our advice. But I can say this is how we have approached it.
Journalist: Hi, Bloomberg. A question for Minister Wadephul. You've spoken just now about cooperation on security and minerals. The G7 has been speaking about that kind of stuff for years. Is there [indistinct] that that kind of thing will be a financial investment? The US is putting a billion dollars [indistinct] Australia has a new critical minerals stockpile. Is it time for the European Union and Germany itself to also put real money into setting up these supply chains that you're talking about to supply German industry, especially as German industry is now being the biggest, I guess, scapegoat of the Chinese actions against the US?
Foreign Minister Wadephul: Definitely, I think that in this field we must invest more, and particularly I believe that we must set up a system where those who have critical minerals and those who need them, among which is Germany first and foremost, work together on a trust basis. We must develop a system that we can all rely on and, of course, where new market prices will be established. But in an initial phase, I think it is time for us to put up our money where our mouth is, and Germany knows about its dependencies. Germany is committed to diversifying its supply chains. That is a central task for the immediate future that we have to handle.
But I am leaving Australia now with a good feeling that there's a great potential for effective cooperation in this field. We must avoid that, coming from a system of dependencies, we create a new system where those get most who pay the most money quickest. But, rather, we must try to develop a system that is reliable and based on cooperation in the world. And the European Union is looking for partners for establishing this system, and I think we'll find them here in Australia.
Journalist: Another question for DW from Germany. So Ministers, the New START nuclear arms treaty between the US and Russia runs out today, and I would just like to ask you about your respective views on the implications of that. First of all, Minister Wong, I mean, how concerned are you that, combined with China's rapid nuclear weapon build-up, that we could enter into a three-way arms race and dynamic that also fuels proliferation risks here in Asia?
And to Herr Wadephul, [inaudible] to have a kind of European nuclear shield. Can you assure that Germany will live up to its obligations under the non-proliferation treaty?
Foreign Minister Wong: Perhaps I'll just respond to the first one, if I may. I'm aware of where those discussions are and where those negotiations are. And, yes, of course, we remain concerned about nuclear proliferation. Australia has a longstanding position. We have a longstanding position on nuclear weapons. We have a longstanding position on nuclear non-proliferation, and we will continue to advocate for that.
Foreign Minister Wadephul: Any armaments control treaty that expires must be a cause for concern for us. That is also true for the recent developments and shows how large the task is when it comes to building new trust in the world that can be a basis for new agreements. That not only applies for the relationship between US and Russia but also for relations with China. China has to be included. China that keeps emphasising that they stand with multilateralism, they also have to show in the field of arms control that they are ready to show restraint and that they invest trust in international relations. I do hope that this will be successful, and it is always true that Germany will abide by all international treaties that we concluded.