Annual Report 2003-04

Defence Cooperation

Other Regional Activities

Performance Summary

This budget funded a range of activities, including conferences and seminars, single-Service and combined training, multilateral activities, and Defence cooperation activities with India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The defence relationships with India and Pakistan, which were suspended in May 1998 following these countries' nuclear tests, have now resumed and have regained their previous momentum, but with a greater emphasis on activities that will improve the level of strategic dialogue with both countries.

Multilateral

Major activities undertaken during the year were the Pacific-area senior officer logistics seminar, the maritime air surveillance course, the Defence management seminar, Five Power Defence Arrangements meetings, study visits, support for multilateral training activities and health costs. Australia continues to benefit from the opportunity to exercise with fellow member nations under the auspices of the Five Power Defence Arrangements. In June 2004, Five Power Defence Arrangements Ministers agreed to expand the focus of the group to incorporate contemporary asymmetric threats to regional security, including the threat of international terrorism.

India

Defence cooperation with India included staff college exchanges and senior visits to and from India. The second Defence Joint Working Group meeting with India, held in March 2004, was a significant event in consolidating strategic dialogue with a major regional power.

Pakistan

The focus of Defence cooperation activities with Pakistan were staff college exchanges and training activities, with Pakistan participating in emergency management and defence management seminars held in Australia.

Bangladesh

The relationship with Bangladesh has continued at a satisfactory, albeit modest, level. Although Bangladesh did not send any representatives to any Australian-run courses during the reporting period, it committed to send participants to the Emergency Management Seminar and International Peace Operations Seminar to be held in Australia during 2004-05.

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