Visit to Germany and the United Kingdom

The Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP, is travelling to Germany and the United Kingdom from 17-23 February.

In Germany, he is representing Australia at the 59th Munich Security Conference, Europe’s leading global security forum, bringing together leaders from government, business and academia.

Minister Conroy will hold high-level talks with counterparts and defence industry representatives. It will be an opportunity to highlight Australia’s contributions to international security, to provide a strong Indo-Pacific perspective to discussions.

In the United Kingdom, Minister Conroy will have a series of high-level bilateral engagements across his portfolios, including with Minister of State for Defence Procurement, the Rt Hon Alex Chalk MP, and Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific, the Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP.

While in the UK, Minister Conroy will visit the BAE Shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness, to be briefed about the UK approach to developing the industrial base and workforce needed for the construction of nuclear-powered submarines.

Quotes attributable to Pat Conroy, Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for International Development and the Pacific:

“I look forward to discussing Australia’s perspectives on the Indo-Pacific at the Munich Security Conference and how we can work with like-minded partners to ensure an inclusive, secure and prosperous region.

“On the anniversary of Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine, I will reinforce Australia’s support for Ukraine and our efforts to promote stability and protect the rules-based order in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

“Engaging with my UK counterparts is an opportunity to deepen our defence industrial collaboration, as we look ahead to developing new defence capabilities to strengthen our national security.”