United States – Australia Relations

U.S. – Australia Relations

Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN)

Canberra — 23 February 2008

Deputy Secretary of State Negroponte, Secretary of Defense Gates, Australian Defense Minister Fitzgibbon, and Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Smith.

US Secretary of Defense, Dr Robert Gates, and Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon, sign a Statement of Principles establishing a military satellite communications partnership between our countries. Both governments committed to taking forward the partnership in a manner which benefits the defence capabilities of the ADF and US military.
Deputy Secretary of State, Ambassador John Negroponte and Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith, also attended the signing ceremony.

Deputy Secretary of State Negroponte, Australian Defense Minister Fitzgibbon, Secretary of Defense Gates, and Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Smith at a joint press conference.

A Joint Press Conference was held by the US Deputy Secretary of State, the Hon. John Negroponte, Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, US Secretary of Defense, the Hon. Dr Robert Gates, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, to formally close the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) held in Canberra today.
Also in attendance at the Press Conference were (L-R) Secretary of Defence, Mr Nick Warner, the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, along with their US counterparts Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, and Commander, United States Pacific Command, Admiral Timothy Keating USN.

23 February - The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Stephen Smith, and the Minister for Defence, Joel Fitzgibbon, hosted the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) in Canberra on 23 February 2008. The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, and the Secretary of Defence, Mr Nick Warner, also attended the talks.

United States Secretary of Defence, Dr Robert Gates, and Deputy Secretary of State, Ambassador John Negroponte, led the US delegation to AUSMIN. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, and Commander US Pacific Command, Admiral Timothy Keating, also took part.

AUSMIN is the premier bilateral forum for consultations on foreign affairs, defence and strategic matters. AUSMIN embodies the reciprocal and cooperative spirit of the 60-year Alliance, which is built on shared interests, values and sacrifice.

AUSMIN discussions will reflect the global dimensions of Australia — United States cooperation in confronting contemporary security challenges, as well as our close cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region to promote peace, security and prosperity.

Original document from www.defence.gov.au.

Last update: Monday, 25 February 2008 GMT+1000

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