Australia’s Ambitious Foreign Policy Agenda Looks to Push Engagement With Africa

Amid East Africa's worst drought in 40 years, which has put millions of people and wildlife on the brink of starvation, an orphaned elephant calf receives care at the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in Samburu, Kenya, on Oct. 12, 2022. LUIS TATO/AFP via Getty Images

Australia is seeking to engage more with Africa, with the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Tim Watts telling African-Australian community leaders that the current Labor government has set an agenda to develop more ties with African countries.

Speaking at the Dr Apollo Nsubuga-Kyobe Memorial Lecture at La Trobe University in Melbourne on Feb. 11, Watts said that while the Indo-Pacific is a vital part of Australia’s foreign policy remit, Labor is also seeking to expand Australia’s global engagement and is looking towards Africa.