In short:
Australia is promising $250 million worth of military aid for Ukraine, the largest single package it has provided for the country's defence against Russia to date.
NATO allies are also pledging more support, and calling on China to cease being an enabler of Russia's war.
What's next?
Australia will provide guided and air defence missiles, anti-tank weapons and ammunition. A "small number" of Australian personnel will join a NATO command for Ukraine.
The Australian government is set to give Ukraine another $250 million in military support — its largest contribution to the war effort since Russia invaded.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles announced the package on the final day of the NATO summit in Washington DC.
The event, which has been taking place against a backdrop of turbulence in American politics, has been largely focused on bolstering support for Ukraine.
But Australia and other non-member partners from Asia-Pacific nations have sent delegations to strengthen ties with the alliance amid fears about Chinese aggression in the region.
NATO has also accused China of being a "decisive enabler" of Russia's ongoing invasion, and called on Beijing to stop supplying weapons components, and other material and political support.
"The PRC [People's Republic of China] cannot enable the largest war in Europe in recent history without this negatively impacting its interests and reputation," a summit declaration issued by NATO leaders says.
Mr Marles met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the event, along with US President Joe Biden, the prime ministers of New Zealand and Japan, and the president of South Korea.
"When we witnessed, a few years ago, a no-limits agreement being signed between China and Russia on the eve of Russia's illegal invasion in Ukraine … the events of eastern Europe became fundamentally important to us," Mr Marles said at a meeting of the Asia-Pacific leaders.
The summit declaration says NATO allies "remain open to constructive engagement" with China.
"At the same time, we are boosting our shared awareness, enhancing our resilience and preparedness, and protecting against the PRC's coercive tactics and efforts to divide the alliance," it says.
Russia's attacks on Ukraine in recent days have included the bombing of the main children's hospital in Kyiv, which killed dozens of people.
Loading...NATO allies have agreed to provide Ukraine with military support of at least 40 billion euros ($64 billion) over the next year.
The Australian military package includes guided and air defence missiles, anti-tank weapons, ammunition, and a shipment of boots.
The government says it brings the value of Australia's overall support to $1.3 billion, including $1.1 billion for Ukraine's military.
"This will not be the last package that we announce," Mr Marles said.
"We will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes for Ukraine to resolve this conflict on its own terms."
The Australian Defence Force has already been training Ukrainian army recruits under Operation Kudu in the UK. It will now also sign on as an "operational partner" to a new NATO command for Ukraine, and a group of Australian personnel who are already stationed in Europe will transfer across to the 700-person training and security initiative.
Washington has proven, in some unforeseen ways, to be an apt setting for the summit.
Mr Biden's activities have been widely perceived as a test of his fitness for office, as domestic debate about his candidacy for the November election intensifies, including among members of his own party.
And many NATO members are concerned about the possible re-election of Donald Trump, who has indicated he could scale back, or even cut off, American support for both Ukraine and NATO.
Trump this week said he would not pull the US out of the alliance, but he wanted members to meet their defence spending obligations.
"I just want them to pay their bills," Trump told Fox News Radio. "We're protecting Europe. They take advantage of us very badly."
This year, 23 of NATO's 32 member states are expected to hit the defence spending target of 2 per cent of GDP. A decade ago, only three NATO states were meeting that target.
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiamh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDI0LTA3LTExL2F1c3RyYWxpYS11a3JhaW5lLW1pbGl0YXJ5LXN1cHBvcnQtbmF0by1zdW1taXQtd2FzaGluZ3Rvbi8xMDQwODU2ODbSAShodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTA0MDg1Njg2?oc=5
2024-07-11 13:00:28Z
CBMiamh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDI0LTA3LTExL2F1c3RyYWxpYS11a3JhaW5lLW1pbGl0YXJ5LXN1cHBvcnQtbmF0by1zdW1taXQtd2FzaGluZ3Rvbi8xMDQwODU2ODbSAShodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTA0MDg1Njg2
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Australia promises record military aid for Ukraine as NATO calls out China as an 'enabler' of Russia's invasion - ABC News"
Post a Comment