Australian-US Ministerial consultations (AUSMIN) 2017

Australia will host the United States Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, and Secretary of Defense, Jim Mattis, in Sydney on 5 June for the 2017 Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN). The US delegation will include the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph F. Dunford, and Commander, US Pacific Command, Admiral Harry Harris.

Established over 30 years ago, AUSMIN is the premier forum for Australia-US bilateral consultations on foreign affairs, defence and strategic matters. 

This will be the first AUSMIN with the new US Administration, and will build on our strong, dynamic bilateral relationship and our steadfast Alliance, which began with the signing of the ANZUS treaty in 1951.

During the meeting we will discuss our shared commitment to ensuring global peace and stability, and our mutual strategic priorities including North Korea, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and defeating ISIS. Australia-US cooperation and collaboration in the Pacific and South East Asia will also be a key focus.

Australia and the US have a substantial economic partnership. The Australia-US Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) has boosted growth in both countries, with bilateral trade worth nearly $70 billion in 2015-16. The US is also the largest investor in Australia, with investments of $861 billion in 2016. In the same year, Australia’s investment in the US was $617 billion.