Australia, Canada Pledge Efforts to ‘Avoid War’ in Indo-Pacific

Avoiding conflict is ‘front and centre’ as both nations seek to respond to threats in the region.

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles in Melbourne, Australia, on May 1, 2024. Asanka Brendon Ratnayake-Pool/Getty Images

Amid growing security concerns, Australia’s and Canada’s defence ministers vowed to prevent any possible “war” or “tension” in the region.

The two ministers—Bill Blair, Canada’s Minister of National Defence, and Richard Marles, his Australian counterpart—held a bilateral meeting on Aug. 8 to discuss various defence areas where the two nations can strengthen each other and share capabilities.