Australia and Ukraine Sign 10-Year Bilateral Security Agreement

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The pact establishes a framework for long-term defense cooperation, including increased training for Ukrainian forces and collaboration on missiles, air-defense measures, and drones.

As part of the agreement, Australia committed an additional $60 million in support, consisting of $45 million for Australian Defence Force equipment, $10 million for Ukraine's energy support fund, and $5 million for humanitarian assistance. This brings Australia's total contribution since 2022 to nearly $1.9 billion. Australia also joined a Maritime Capability Coalition led by the United Kingdom and Norway to help develop Ukraine's navy.

A central component of the partnership involves deepening cooperation on uncrewed systems. Both leaders committed to exploring the joint production of drones, with Australia seeking to integrate its autonomous technology, such as the Ghost Shark undersea vehicle, with Ukraine's battlefield experience to enhance security in the Indo-Pacific.

Coinciding with the announcement, the Australian government imposed further sanctions on Russia and its supporters, bringing the total to over 1,900 and listing nearly 300 shadow fleet vessels. During the meeting, Albanese argued that the post-1945 international world order is no longer fit for purpose and characterized the Russian invasion as a global issue.