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Writing exclusively for the Daily Express, the Foreign Secretary insists “the price of liberty is eternal vigilance” against rogue nations seeking to disrupt freedom. Ms Truss, who is in Australia for historic partnership talks, promises the UK will continue to “fly the flag for freedom and democracy”.
Britain must keep eye on ball in face of threat from China, Russia and Iran says LIZ TRUSS
She said: “With malign forces threatening global peace and stability, it is vital that close allies like the UK and Australia show robust vigilance in defence of freedom and democracy. The AUKUS partnership between the UK, Australia and the United States is a clear demonstration of how we will defend our values, protect trade routes and increase stability across the Indo-Pacific.
“In Australia, I will be strengthening our economic, diplomatic and security ties, making our country safer and more competitive in order to win the battle for ideas as part of our network of liberty.”
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace added: “The UK and Australia share one of the oldest and strongest defence and security alliances. Operating and exercising side by side, we continue to work together to promote stability, and tackle our shared threats with our like-minded ally head on.”
Ms Truss and Mr Wallace will hold crucial defence and security talks with the UK’s key ally in Sydney. The visit comes in the face of mounting aggression from Vladimir Putin’s Russia over Ukraine and the increasing influence of China in the Indo-Pacific region, a key trading area for post-Brexit Britain.
It takes place against the backdrop of a burgeoning relationship between the UK and Australia after the two nations signed historic defence and trade deals last year. The AUKUS submarine pact was signed between Boris Johnson, Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in September.
And last month Britain and Australia signed a new free trade agreement worth an extra £10.4billion of trade. On the second leg of the Australia visit, the Foreign Secretary will travel to Adelaide to forge closer business ties.
This is alongside the UK’s efforts to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, one of the world’s largest trading blocs. This could hand the UK a £20billion-ayear jobs and business windfall. Ministers have said the UK is “on track” to become part of the £9trillion CPTPP next year with talks already under way.
Joining one of the world’s largest free trade areas would ultimately trigger cuts in tariffs in industries such as food, drink, cars and tech. And the UK would form closer alliances with 11 current members, including Canada, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore. Ms Truss will also visit the BAE Systems shipyard to see how British business expertise is responsible for building frigates for the Australian Navy.
She will use the visit Down Under to agree to closer co-operation with Australia to boost infrastructure investment for Indo-Pacific states. This is widely seen as a riposte to China’s controversial belt and road scheme, a multi-billion-dollar statebacked campaign to connect Asia, Africa and Europe. Britain has also provided light anti-armour weapons to Ukraine in the face of mounting tensions.
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