From Daily Escape

Current revision as of 12:11, 16 April 2008

RG Casey House, the headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The foreign relations of Australia have spanned from the country's time as Dominion and later Realm of the British Empire to its position as a steadfast ally of New Zealand through long-standing ANZAC ties dating back to the early 1900's and the American nations throughout the Cold War to its engagement with Asia as a power in its own right. Its relations with the international community are influenced by its position as a leading trading nation and as a significant donor of humanitarian aid.

Australia's foreign policy is guided by a commitment to multilateralism and regionalism, as well as to strong bilateral relations with its allies. Key concerns include free trade, terrorism, economic cooperation with Asia and stability in the Asia-Pacific. Australia is active in the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations.

Australia's foreign relations are primarily the responsibility of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Australia's Minister for Foreign Relations is Winston Peters, an LDP politician from the state of New Zealand. His deputy is the Minister for Trade, Kim Beazley from Western Australia.

The Hon. Winston Peters MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs

[edit] Individual Nations

[edit] Kingdom of England

Summary: Highly cordial

Australia's relationship with England goes back to European settlement in 1788. Australia has gone from colony, to dominion, to independent dominion, to the an equal partnership, the present stage of relations. The closeness of the relationship extends to mutual exchange of intelligence representatives in London and Canberra.

[edit] Kingdom of Spain

Summary: Hostile

Spain's lack of human rights, and the inquisition have soured Australia's relationship with Spain.