Continued cooperation between the navy, maritime forces and their home countries remains critical to ensuring good maritime order and protecting strategic interests, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Chief of Navy (CN) told the Navy’s flagship meeting in Sydney. May 10th.
Lt. Admiral Michael Noonan, keynote address at the 2022 Indo-Pacific Sea Power Conference on ‘Australia and the Indo-Pacific: Commonality of Purpose’, said: national security”, adding that “[it] A multilateral approach, deep coordination and strong partnerships are required, [and] Depends on a shared commitment to cooperative behavioural norms, freedoms and international law. “
VAdm Noonan noted: “Today, all of us will see incredible suffering and violations of international law around the world, and none of us expected to see this in 2022.”
From a national perspective, CN said: “The ocean is the lifeblood of Australia. We absolutely depend on it. We trade [and] Sea travel; our economy, our prosperity, our way of life depend on the sea. “
“The Indo-Pacific … defines Australia’s immediate strategic interests. Access through it is vital to Australia’s trade and security,” he continued. “As our region grapples with increasing strategic competition, the Royal Australian Force and the wider Australian Defence Force will be a permanent force working closely with our allies and like-minded partners.”
On multinational work with these allies and partners, VAdm Noonan said: “Our naval and maritime forces have a long history of deployment and engagement in the region. The relationship we share as seafarers is an integral part of Australia’s security planning .”
“In our ambition to achieve peace and shared prosperity, we share a common purpose here today,” CN continued. “We work together to build stronger and better relationships; we recognize the work that lies ahead of us all; we recognize that in our region, our navy and our sea power must work together for good impact to protect others from oppression and safeguard the interests of our nation and the welfare of our citizens.”
Dr. Lee Willett
