Opening remarks, IP4 NATO Meeting, Washington

Subject/s: NATO Summit; Indo-Pacific Four

Thank you, Prime Minister. 

Prime Minister, as we gather today, four countries who have shared values that is, as we’ve discussed, have a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, a commitment to a global rules based order within our region, an order which is under as much pressure as it has been since the end of the Second World War. 

The relationship that we share is that as foundational to our national security as any relationships that we have with any countries in the world. 

In fact, the strategic alignment that we share is the greatest strategic alignment of any countries that we have a relationship with in the world, which means that the increased activity that we are doing with each other is so profoundly important for each of our national interests. 

And 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 of Ukraine at that moment, the events of Eastern Europe became fundamentally important for us. 

That war is shaping the Indo-Pacific because the lessons that will be learnt from that war, good or bad, are lessons that are going to learnt in our region, which is why we are so committed to supporting Ukraine and why we are so committed to our engagement with NATO. 

So, we really welcome the opportunity to meet here today, to meet in the context of our engagement with NATO. 

But most of all, we are really pleased that the relationship between the four of us is one which is growing stronger by the day.

Thank you.