Top diplomats of Australia, Germany vow to 'manage change,' defend UN

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) - Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and her German counterpart Johann Wadephul on Wednesday vowed to "manage change" and defend the UN during a meeting in Canberra.

The German top diplomat's visit shows "the strong relationship" between the two countries and the "growing importance" of partnership in what is "not only a rapidly changing world, but an increasingly challenged world," Wong said in her opening remarks, according to a readout by the Australian Foreign Ministry.

"We're middle powers, and we know that by working together, by building coalitions and partnerships, we work to manage the change that we are all experiencing and to deliver better outcomes for our people," she added.

Wadephul for his part, said that the international rules-based system must be "defended."

"We have to defend the United Nations as our peace organization, and doing this side by side, shoulder to shoulder with Australia is very important in these times," he said. "For us, questions of security, of economic security, become more and more important. We have to diversify."

"We have to have a policy of derisking, and we have to have a policy which emboldens us -- Germany and the European Union -- to withstand all the pressure we do feel from big powers in order to preserve not only our economic but especially our political independence, and doing that aligned with Australia is very positive," he added.

Wong and Wadephul also discussed Ukraine.

Australia stands with Germany "in support of Ukraine, in the defense of sovereignty, freedom and security of the European continent," Wong said, stressing the need for a "just and lasting peace on Ukraine's terms, a peace that upholds Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, that supports security and stability in Europe and ensures that Russia does not renew its aggression."

Canberra and Berlin have an enhanced strategic cooperation. The two countries established diplomatic ties in 1952.

Bilateral trade between Australia and Germany was around $16 billion in 2024.