Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP, will attend the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue with Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, in Singapore from 2-4 June 2023.
The Deputy Prime Minister will then travel to Indonesia and Vanuatu for high-level talks with his counterparts from 5-7 June.
Convened by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the Shangri-La Dialogue is the region's pre-eminent security forum. The Prime Minister will deliver the Keynote address to this forum.
It brings together governments and experts to discuss some of the key challenges facing the Indo-Pacific.
While in Singapore, the Deputy Prime Minister will participate in the 12th Australia-Japan-United States Trilateral Defence Ministers' Meeting with Japan's Minister of Defense Hamada Yasukazu and United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III.
The Deputy Prime Minister will then travel to Jakarta, Indonesia, for meetings with Vice President K.H. Ma'ruf Amin and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto.
In Vanuatu, he will meet national and community leaders as well as undertake a broad program, spanning security and development, reflective of our partnership.
Quotes attributable to Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP:
Shangri-La Dialogue
"Australia is committed to a peaceful, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific, where sovereignty is respected and the global rules-based order is upheld."
"It is more important than ever for us to invest in our regional partnerships and speak openly about the kind of region we want to live in."
"The Shangri-La Dialogue plays an important role in promoting conversation about our strategic challenges, and I look forward to meeting with so many of my counterparts in Singapore."
Visit to Indonesia
"Indonesia is one of our closest and most important partners, and I look forward to progressing our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during my visit to Jakarta."
Visit to Vanuatu
"I am grateful for the opportunity to visit Vanuatu. I am proud of our strong and enduring partnership and I welcome discussions on how we work together as a Pacific family on our shared Pacific priorities."
