Senator the Hon Marise Payne
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Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC
& others
24 Mar 21
Release details
Release type
Related ministers and contacts
Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC
Minister for Defence
Media contact
Nicky Hamer (Minister Reynolds’ Office): +61 437 989 927
Defence Media: media@defence.gov.au
Release content
17 November 2019
JOINT STATEMENT
Australian Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana announced that Australia will transition its support under Operation AUGURY-Philippines to an Enhanced Defence Cooperation Program as of 1 December 2019.
The announcement, made in the margins of the ADMM-Plus in Bangkok, Thailand on 16 November, reinforced a shared long-term commitment to countering the regional terrorist threat and building on the well-established bilateral defence relationship.
Minister Reynolds and Secretary Lorenzana recognised that after the siege of Marawi in October 2017, Australia’s contribution under Operation AUGURY-Philippines has provided counter-terrorism capacity training to over 10,000 members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
This training cooperation has included essential land-based activities focused on urban combat and joint coordination skills; air training focused on enhancing air coordination in the urban environment; and maritime training activities.
Minister Reynolds and Secretary Lorenzana agreed an Enhanced Defence Cooperation Program will allow the Australian Defence Force to continue delivering the capacity-building support for counter-terrorism cooperation requested by the Philippines.
The Program will also provide funding certainty and greater flexibility to meet the broader needs of the Australia-Philippines bilateral defence relationship.
Minister Reynolds and Secretary Lorenzana underscored that long-term engagement under the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Program will strengthen their shared commitment to regional security and stability.