Australia

LATIKA M BOURKE: The EU’s first-ever Commissioner for Defence and Space has vowed Europe will be a reliable partner to Australia today and always amid growing uncertainty over the AUKUS agreement.

Anthony Albanese has seemingly shored up support for the AUKUS pact, even before his highly anticipated meeting with US President Donald Trump.

The Albanese Government on Monday urged restraint and a return to diplomacy in the Middle East amid fears the missile exchange between Israel and Iran could escalate into a broader regional conflict. 

Anthony Albanese will use the next few days ahead of his highly anticipated first meeting with US President Donald Trump strengthening defence, trade and security relationships with other allies.

The Israel-Iran conflict is already dominating the meeting of G7 leaders in Canada, with Anthony Albanese discussing the global response with Canada’s PM Mark Carney.

Anthony Albanese will need to perform deft diplomatic manoeuvres at G7 summit in the first major foreign policy test of his new term.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has labelled the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel as ‘alarming’ and vowed Australia would do everything necessary to keep its citizens safe.

The prime minister's trip to Fiji will provide a diplomatic warm-up before Anthony Albanese attempts to meet with the US president to strike a trade deal.

Defence Minister Richard Marles goes into damage control as the Pentagon’s inquiry into the $368b submarine pact sparks concerns of an ‘America First’ Trump torpedo for the security scheme.

NICOLA SMITH: Australian experts have played down the AUKUS review but warned Anthony Albanese to increase defence spending

A former senior Australian defence bureaucrat with close ties to the Trump administration has revealed what he believes sparked a review of the AUKUS agreement.

Defence Minister Richard Marles has been forced to pour cold water on fears over a new Pentagon inquiry into AUKUS, insisting the Government was ‘very confident’ the $368b program would go ahead. 

AARON PATRICK: The action against two Israel ministers panders to Hamas supporters and could trigger more violence against Australian Jews.

Senator Wong was at pains to stress in her carefully worded justification the distinction between the narrow targeting of the far-right ministers and ongoing Government support for Israel